Open Space
Strategy 2012-2022
About this document
This document is the Open Space Strategy for the City of Moreland. The Strategy
has been prepared by Moreland City Council with assistance from @leisure.
Acknowledgements
Moreland City Council acknowledges the traditional owners of the land, the
Kulin Nation, of which the local indigenous people are the Wurrundjeri.
Council is committed to building a trusting, collaborative and supportive
relationship with indigenous groups, and to respecting identified Aboriginal
sacred sites and special places.
Project manager: Clare Johnston, Open Space Planner & Design Officer
Contributions by Moreland City Councillors, Council officers and members
of the Sustainable Moreland Advisory Group are gratefully acknowledged.
Contents
Executive summary
4
1.
Introduction
6
2.
Context
12
3.
Open space vision, goals and principles
16
4.
Emerging issues for open space
20
5.
The open space planning framework
32
6.
Supply of open space in Moreland
36
Map 1 Provision of Open Space
42
Map 2 Public open space by primary function
43
Map 3 Public open space by landscape type
44
Map 4 Indigenous vegetation
45
Map 5 Open space strategic priorities
46
7.
Demand for open space in Moreland
52
8.
Key Goals and objectives
64
9.
Goal 1: Providing parks close to home
66
Goal 2: Having a mix of open space types and experiences
68
Goal 3: Making places for nature
72
Goal 4: A greener more liveable Moreland
74
Goal 5: Making the most of open space through effective management
77
Goal 6: Enhancing participation and use of open space
80
Goal 7: Development of a network of shared trails
82
Implementation of the Strategy
10. Implementation Plan
11. Appendices
86
90
105
Appendix 1: Planning and policy context 106
Appendix 2: Classifications and core levels of service
118
Appendix 3: Open space planning process for residential areas
126
Appendix 4: Environmental weeds in Moreland
128
References
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022
133
3
Executive
summary
The Moreland Open Space
Strategy sets Council a
cohesive direction for the
future provision, planning,
design and management of
publicly owned open space
that is set aside for leisure,
recreation and nature
conservation purposes.
The main aim is to
preserve and enhance
its environmental values
and provide for future
community needs.
The Strategy recognises
the value of open space
not managed or owned by
Council, including parks
and reserves that abut
Council’s boundary in
other municipalities, and
other open space owned
by other agencies.
4
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | Exectutive Summary
Open space definition
For the purposes of this project, open space
is defined as public land that has a leisure,
sport, landscape value, habitat conservation,
environmental or visual amenity function and
/ or is zoned or reserved for public parks or
conservation purposes.
Open space may include sports fields,
conservation areas, playgrounds, recreation
trails, as well as public land that may be
provided for drainage or utility purposes,
that is used or valued for leisure and
environmental purposes.
It is acknowledged that open space may not
always be green; it may be paved, such as in
a town square, mall or plaza.
The focus of this Strategy is on open space
that is owned or managed by Council.
Where possible this plan takes into account
open space that is accessible to the
community and provided by other agencies,
including adjoining Councils’ open space.
This Strategy does not address open space
owned by schools, however acknowledges
the possible use of school grounds (through
shared use agreements) to provide access to
open space where there is an identified need.
Structure of the Strategy
This Open Space Strategy sets out the key
issues arising following an analysis of demand
and open space supply. For each key issue a
goal, objectives, strategies and actions have
been identified. Seven key open space issues
are identified in this strategy. These are:
1. Providing parks close to home
2. Having a mix of open space types
and experiences
3. Making places for nature
4. A greener more liveable Moreland
5. Making the most of open space through
effective management
6. Enhancing participation and use of open space
7. Development of a network of shared trails
The following maps are supplied that show
current public open space in Moreland, and
priority areas for additional provision.
• Map 1 Provision of Open Space
• Map 2 Public open space by primary
function
• Map 3 Public open space by landscape type
• Map 4 Indigenous vegetation
• Map 5 Open space strategic priorities
An implementation plan is provided in Chapter
9: Implementation of the Strategy (page 86) that
summarises the objectives, strategies and
actions for each goal, as well as the timeframe
and responsible department for each.
Existing funding of
open space works
All capital projects delivered as a result of the
previous strategy have been directly funded
via Councils Public Reserve and Resort
Fund (PRRF) and external State and Federal
Government funding.
A public open space contribution requirement
was introduced into the Moreland Planning
Scheme (at Clause 52.01) in September 2010.
It is this schedule of rates and subsequent
financial contributions from developers that
will define the future annual income and
capacity of the PRRF.
The cost of implementing
the Open Space Strategy
It is envisaged the bulk of capital projects will
continue to be funded via the PRRF however,
the need to also fund land acquisition for new
public open space will reduce the annual open
space development capital project capacity
of the reserve fund periodically, unless
supplemented through the rate base. The level
of reserve funds and rate funds available for
open space will also determine the length of
time required to implement significant open
space capital works.
The cost of maintaining and managing new
public open space within activity centres and
parks and recreation reserve renewal projects
must be factored into the annual operational
base budgets.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | Executive Summary
5
1. Introduction
6
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 1. Introduction
Moreland has over 576 hectares of Council
managed open space which makes up 177
reserves. This includes parks, natural areas
along creeks, sporting grounds, playgrounds,
grasslands, and reserves. Residents also use
other spaces, such as the Fawkner Cemetery
and rail reserves, as open space. Open space
is used for picnics, gatherings of families/
friends, enjoying nature, active and passive
recreation and many other things.
What Moreland City Council is trying to
achieve in the open space network:
• Quality of open space
Previous plans
Council’s first Open Space Strategy was
adopted in 1996. Extensive community
consultation was undertaken as part of the
project. In 2004 this strategy was reviewed
and the priorities and actions updated.
Since the last Open Space Strategy was
reviewed in 2004, many improvements have
been made to Moreland’s parks following the
Strategy’s recommendations. These include:
• Harmony Park and skate facility
development, Coburg
• A welcoming place, attractive and
appealing
• ATC Cook Reserve upgrade, Glenroy
• Well-maintained and clean, safe and secure
• Developed shared use of the grounds
of Box Forest Secondary College Glenroy
& KODE College
• Accessible and connected spaces
• Sustainable management practices
• Conservation and heritage values
protected, including being biodiverse,
supporting ecological networks
• Community involvement
• Letting people know how and where they
can use open space
• Implementation of the Playground Strategy
• Review of the Landscape Development
Guidelines
• Review of existing open space concept,
master and management plans to check
implementation status and direction to
ensure that they are still relevant
• Improving our management of spaces
• Continued organisation and / or support
of community planting events
• Promote activity, health and well being
for community benefits.
• Completion of the final stage of the
Jones Park Master Plan
• Annual roll out of the Playground
Development Plan
• Refurbishment of Temple Park, Brunswick
• Refurbishment of Anselm Grove Park,
Glenroy
• Creation of a new park at Hadfield Theatre
Site – now Bartlett Family Reserve
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 1. Introduction
7
• Refurbishment plans for Gillon Oval,
Brunswick Park and Raeburn Reserve,
Brunswick and Coburg Lake Reserves
in progress
Development of 2012 Strategy
• Public Open Space Contribution introduced
to Clause 52.01 of the Moreland
Planning Scheme
• Review of the 2004 Open Space Strategy
The preparation of this Open Space Strategy
has involved a number of tasks, including:
This Strategy builds on Council’s 2004 Open
Space Strategy which contained the following
relevant purposes:
• Reinforce local identity, physical character
and civic pride in Moreland, influencing
new development that is distinctly Moreland
• Improve physical and social inclusion,
including accessibility and connection
between places for wildlife, recreation,
walking and cycling
• Demographic and demand analysis
• Consultation with Council staff, including
the Joint Planners forum
• Community consultation including pertinent
information from the Municipal Public
Health Plan survey; review by the
Sustainable Moreland Advisory Group;
community survey on the draft MOSS and
consultation with residents, Merri Creek
Management Committee
• Mapping of all public open space in
the municipality
• Protect and enhance biodiversity and
ecological habitats for Moreland’s flora
and fauna through developing open space
that responds to this need
• Development of a classification system and
core service levels for public open space
• Analysis of the distribution of spaces by
primary function and landscape setting
• Provide for a range of age groups in
open space
• Aid urban regeneration
• Boost the economic potential of tourism,
leisure and cultural activities
• Provide cultural, social, recreational,
sporting and community facilities
• Protect and promote understanding of
the historical and cultural value of places
• Contribute to the creation of healthy places,
including quiet areas
• Provide popular outdoor educational
facilities
• Improve opportunities to enjoy contact
with the natural world
8
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 1. Introduction
Purpose of the
open space strategy
The Strategy provides Council with the
priorities for public open space so that it can
plan and develop its open space to preserve
and enhance its environmental values and
provide for community needs.
The strategy recognises the value of open
space not managed or owned by Council,
including parks and reserves that abut
Council’s boundary in other municipalities.
The Moreland Open Space Strategy is a
multi-functional strategy that reflects a widely
shared vision for Moreland. It is a strategy
that is important across a number of Council
departments, the community and other
government stakeholders and businesses.
The central purposes of this Strategy are to:
• Understand supply and demand for
open spaces;
• To identify deficiencies of open space / and
access to open space;
• To secure appropriate additional open
space where possible;
• To protect existing open space and it’s
values; and
• To improve its quality through better
planning and management.
The 2012 Open Space Strategy will be reviewed
in 2022 with the implementation Plan being
accessed and updated every 3 years.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 1. Introduction
9
The value of open space
“Open space is not only for recreation and
conservation of environmental and cultural
values; it is the foundation of urban liveability.
It underpins many social, ecological, and
economic benefits that are essential to the
healthy functioning of the urban environment”
(Parks Victoria 2002, Linking People and Spaces).
People who are active are more likely to live
longer, have lower risk of heart disease and
stroke, and are less likely to suffer stress,
anxiety and depression. Open space that is
accessible and attractive also encourages us
to undertake various forms of exercise as part
of our daily lives.
Open space makes a major contribution to the
liveability of our cities and the health of people
working, living and recreating in our City.
More specifically, benefits include:
“Research evidence shows that close proximity
to green spaces is clearly associated with
reduced prevalence of depression, anxiety
and other health problems. The relationship
has been shown to be strongest for children
and people with low incomes” 1
• Providing space for outdoor recreation
including organised sport, walking, cycling,
children’s play, and picnics
Parks and open spaces provide the main
opportunities for viewing and experiencing
nature in an urban area.
• Contributing to urban amenity, including
stormwater drainage and protection
from flooding
Trends towards more intensive development
and increased work-related stress indicate a
growing need for these green spaces.
• Improving mental and physical health –
places for relaxation, stress relief, exercise
and socialising
From a financial perspective, the Councilowned public open spaces represent
a substantial real estate asset for the
municipality. Many millions of dollars have
been invested in developing and maintaining
these areas, and the value of these assets
improves the overall real estate value
of Moreland.
• Protecting biodiversity and other
environmental assets, including habitat
for wildlife
• Providing a resource for education
• Contributing to civic pride and social
cohesion, including improving the aesthetic
appearance of the municipality and
enhancing property values and providing
a more liveable city
This Strategy seeks to build on this asset
base, and continue to improve its social,
environmental and economic values for
the Moreland community.
The importance of physical activity to people’s
physical and mental health is well recognised
and documented.
1. Townsend and Weerasuriya, 2010.
10
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 1. Introduction
Open space is not
only for recreation
and conservation of
environmental and cultural
values; it is the foundation
of urban liveability. It
underpins many social,
ecological, and economic
benefits that are essential
to the healthy functioning
of the urban environment.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 1. Introduction
11
2. Context
12
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 2. Context
Physical context
Planning and policy context
Moreland is a municipality in the inner north
of Melbourne. It has an area of 51 square
kilometres and mostly lies between Moonee
Ponds Creek to the west, and Merri Creek to
the east, with Gowanbrae and Tullamarine to
the north west of the Moonee Ponds Creek
and Newlands to the east of Merri Creek.
Park Street bounds the south of the
municipality, and the Western Ring Road
is the boundary to the north.
The Moreland Open Space Strategy sits
within a broader policy framework that
includes legislation and policies of the state
government, as well as the local government
policies of Moreland City Council.
Moreland’s waterways are the distinctive
natural feature of the municipality, requiring
consideration as to how these can be
protected as an important natural resource,
whilst providing important opportunities for
community recreation.
Figure 1: Local Government Planning Framework
shows the influence of the state and local
planning policy on the Open Space Strategy.
Further context on policies and strategy are
provided in Appendix 1: Planning and policy
context (page 106).
Moreland is an established municipality,
with little opportunity for greenfield
development. There is little variance in the
density of settlement in the municipality,
although increased density and mixed use
developments exist (or expected) in the activity
centres of Brunswick, Coburg, and Glenroy.
Opportunities to acquire land for public open
space should be pursued when the opportunity
arises, particularly through new development.
As these opportunities may be limited, the
challenge lies in enhancing the quality of and
improving access to the open space network
through upgrading what exists at present.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 2. Context
13
Figure 1. Local Government Planning Framework
Local Government Planning Framework
Melbourne 2030 – Melbourne@5 million
Victorian Planning
Provisions
& Planning Scheme
Legislation
Influences
• State Planning Policy
Framework
• Local Policy
Framework
• Zones
• Overlays
• Particular Provisions
• General Provisions
• Planning &
Environment Act
(inc. s173
Agreements)
• Crown Lands
(Reserves) Act
• National Parks Act
• Conservation,
Forests & Lands
Act (inc. S69
Agreements)
• Subdivision Act
• Relevant Lands Acts
• Park specific
regulations
State Government
Policies/Guidelines
• Native Vegetation
Framework
• Linking People
and Spaces
• State Environment
& Planning Policy
• Victorian Coastal
Strategy
• Victorian Trails Strategy
• Vic Roads – Clear
Zone Standards
• Melbourne Water Shared
Path Guidelines
• GAA Precinct Structure
Plan Guidelines
• Safer Design
Guidelines DSE
• Activity Centre
Guidelines DSE
• Higher Density Design
Guidelines DSE
Open Space Strategy
Policy
Policies and guidelines in
addressing key issues, provision
standards and core serve levels
Processes:
Planning
Approvals
Agreed processes and
responsibilities to:
Provisions:
Statutory
Planning
Moreland Planning Scheme
Strategic
Planning
& Capital
Works
Inventory & Geographic
Information
Parks Victoria State & Metropolitan Park Development and Management
Moreland Council Plan
Moreland Health & Wellbeing Plan
Moreland Planning
Scheme-Municipal
Strategic Statement
Key Policy
Open Space Strategy, Multicultural Policy and Action Plan,
Disability Strategy, Climate Action Plan
Other Specific Issues/Plans/Strategies
Street Landscape Strategy, Leisure Plan, Playground Strategy, Integrated
Transport Strategy, Reconciliation Policy and Action Plan, Bicycle Plan, Merri
Creek Environs Strategy, Moonee Ponds Creek Environs Strategy, Integrated
Water Management Plan, Structure Plans, Industrial Land Use Strategy, Youth
Strategy, Community Consultation & Engagement Strategy, Active Moreland
• Assess proposals:
pre-planning info; site demand
analysis; compliance with
policy guidelines;
core service criteria; master
planning; site & design
• Make input into
structure plans
• Local Planning Policy, MSS
• Development
Contribution Plans
• Clause 52.01
• Structure Plans
• Reference or incorporated
document
•
•
•
•
Locality Analysis
Gaps/Opportunities
Demand Analysis
Municipal wide & precinct
priorities for acquisition
and development
• Upgrades
• Action Plan
• Annual Implementation Plan
Influences
14
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 2. Context
In the City of Moreland there
is an estimated 839ha of
open space. This includes
local and district level
parks utilised for a range of
functions, sports reserves,
open space adjacent to the
Merri and Moonee Ponds
Creeks, and large individual
areas at Northern Golf Club,
Fawkner Memorial Park, and
Northern Memorial Park.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 2. Context
15
3. O
pen space vision,
goals and principles
16
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 3. Open space vision, goals and principles
Vision
Key goals
Moreland City Council’s open space vision
is to create a:
For each of the key issues arising from the
analysis underpinning the strategy, seven
goals have been identified.
Functionally diverse open space network
that values Moreland’s natural and cultural
heritage, and enhances liveability for
its residents.
Now and into the future:
The natural and cultural heritage of the
municipality is celebrated, protected and
restored in its open spaces. The extensive
use of sustainable horticulture and the use
of indigenous plants for habitat creation
have reinvigorated all our parks, providing a
diversity of experiences for our community
and providing valuable habitats that have
brought back many native birds and other
wildlife. Our waterways and natural areas are
protected and have been managed to increase
their ecological values. The community
understand and value these areas and enjoy
the tranquil setting they provide for Moreland.
The open space goals are:
1. Providing parks close to home
2. Having a mix of open space types
and experiences
3. Making places for nature
4. A greener more liveable Moreland
5. Making the most of open space through
effective management
6. Enhancing participation and use of open space
7. Developing of a network of shared trails
Objectives, strategies, actions are established
under each of these goals (see Key Goals &
Objectives page 44 for detail).
Our parks, civic spaces, and waterway
corridors are well designed and maintained,
and offer opportunities close to home for
exercise, socialising, relaxing, learning,
competitive sports, play, festivals, cultural
events, picnics, and connecting with nature.
The open space has improved Moreland’s
liveability and moderated the effects of
changes in the climate. The open space
network is managed for social, environmental
and economic sustainability and Moreland’s
commitment to maintaining a thriving and
valued open space network enhances the
liveability of the municipality.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 3. Open space vision, goals and principles
17
Principles
Access and inclusion
This plan endorses and assumes that the
following principles will be upheld in the
planning and development of all open
spaces in Moreland:
Conservation and
environmental sustainability
• Protection and active management of
remnant indigenous vegetation sites as
irreplaceable natural heritage assets
• Increasing biodiversity throughout the
municipality, including the public realm,
through more intensive and appropriate
landscaping to create habitat corridors,
where possible
• Conservation and interpretation of places
of cultural and archaeological heritage
• Sustainable planting and landscape design
reflecting site context, water sensitive
urban design, landscape character,
functional requirements, and / or specific
design features
• The use of indigenous species as a priority
unless there is an established park
landscape character, a functional need
or specific design feature that requires
another species
• The utilisation of up-to-date, sustainable
environmental design in open space
management
• Consultation with park users and adjacent
residents as part of the planning and
design process for all substantial open
space development and projects
• Inclusion of people with a wide range
of ages, cultural backgrounds and
abilities through open space design
and development
• Maintain and improve movement
between and through open spaces for
walking, cycling, fauna, and surrounding
municipality’s open space networks
• Design and maintenance of open space
that will provide a high degree of security
for users
• Allocation of resources for equitable
distribution, development and maintenance
of open space, and for a range of uses
• Promotes sharing of open space rather
than exclusive use by a user group or
commercial activity
• Maintain and improve open space to
manage the increasing demand for open
space from population growth, increasing
housing densities, building heights and the
loss of private open space
• Redesignation of spaces to create open
space, i.e. road closures
• Acquisition and disposal and alienation
of open space
• Open space should be protected from
overshadowing, encroachment by
non-recreational and support infrastructure,
including car parks and signs, and
development that restricts public access
or surveillance
• Acquisition of land for public open space
may be required: in areas of identified need;
for local parks; in activity centre areas;
to create access to existing parks, or to
consolidate or extend open space corridors
• Advocate for formalisation of surplus public
utility land as designated public open space
• Prior to disposal of open space there will
be a comprehensive assessment of existing
and potential use and value of the space
• Proceeds from any sale of public open
space will be used for open space
development or acquisition
18
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 3. Open space vision, goals and principles
People’s use of open
space for outdoor
recreation has steadily
increased in recent years.
Walking and cycling have
grown rapidly and are
the most popular forms
of exercise in terms
of broad community
participation.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 3. Open space vision, goals and principles
19
4. E
merging issues
for open space
20
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
The following issues for Moreland’s open
space have been identified through research
of relevant documents, including Council
policies, other Councils’ policies, and research
publications, and through consultation. Many
of the impacts created by the issue extend
beyond one goal of the Strategy however they
have been encapsulated within the seven
goals to identify how they will be addressed
in the future.
Issues
a. Higher rate of population growth than
anticipated in Melbourne 2030 and
increasing urban densities.
Potential impact: some areas of Moreland are
expected to have increased housing density to
accommodate a higher population. This will
include increasing heights of buildings and an
associated reduction in the size of private open
space and less open space per capita (VEAC
2010). This may include:
• High building stock potential overshadowing
of parks & street trees
• Changes in building interface with open
space – more dominant building stock
• Houses built on backyards – loss of
biodiversity, areas for productive gardens,
relaxation/mental relief
• Increasing demand for rooftop gardens
and green walls – how to maintain in
harsh climates
• Increasing hard surface area likely to
exacerbate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect
b) Increasing obesity and adverse health
issues within the general populous linked
to lack of exercise.
Potential impact: if nothing is done to improve
accessibility to open space or informal active
recreation opportunities this may contribute
to the issue.
c) Increasing demand for space for team
sports combined with pressures with
maintaining sports grounds during harsh
weather conditions.
Potential impact: continuation of existing
sports with no consideration of how the future
of sport should be planned for and managed
would lead to an inadequate provision of
sports. The multi use of sportsfields and
a change of sports could assist in the
management of the actual fields.
d) Loss of other government land including
access to school sports grounds, other
utilities open space areas i.e. Vic Track,
and Vic Roads land.
Potential impact: loss of valuable green
space that has been used by residents as
open space, or remnant vegetation.
Loss of potential for managing climate change
impacts more effectively if large tracts of
green space lost to development.
e) Loss of open space from private building/
garden encroachment, particularly along
creek corridors.
Potential impact: continual loss of open space
to private gardens/buildings/industry with no
benefit for the community. If not regulated will
continue to occur and will likely exacerbate.
• Increasing use of public open space.
Where open space is of limited accessibility,
or already under a lot of pressure
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
21
f) Likely impacts of climate change and
the urban heat island effect, including
improving planning controls, as well as
general issues of lack of water, need to
maintain greenery, and provide a refuge
from heat
Potential impact: loss of green space and
the very thing we need to protect/lessen the
impact of climate change i.e. cooling effect
of green space which cools the surrounding
environment and provides refuge for habitat.
g) Shared use agreements with schools not
being honoured.
Potential impact: money spent by council on
providing infrastructure on non council land
may be lost if process is not rigorous enough.
h) Various types of private land need to
be considered in the way that they
complement public space, including:
• The amount of space available in
backyards and implications of shrinking
backyards, medium and high density
housing for public open space provision
• The provision for certain sports by the
private sector e.g. golf and tennis
• Publicly accessible land which are used as
open space, i.e. Fawkner Cemetery, and is
privately owned
• Increasing demand for community gardens
and the issue of food security
Potential impact: requests for community
gardens are often directed towards Council
public open space. Community gardens can
be a valuable community resource however
Council policy is required to guide the location
and facilitate the development of sustainable
community gardens. Public open space
is not considered the preferred choice for
community garden use given the already low
provision of open space in the community
and that it does not align with the designated
function of open space.
Food security refers to the adequacy of the
food supply in the community and the ability
to access healthy food choices. The provision
of community gardens is one strategy that can
be considered to address this issue.
i) Requests are received to commemorate
people or significant events by naming
features to be situated in public spaces,
especially in parks. In recent years there
has been an increase in the number of
these requests.
Potential impact: if not managed appropriately
it can have a number of implications for parks
including the
• impact of numerous memorials on
the landscape
• appropriateness of the proposed
memorials to specific sites
• design, construction and use of materials
to minimise maintenance costs
• longevity of the memorials, and
• public safety associated with their design
and location.
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
Climate Change & the Urban
Heat Island effect – implications
for open space
Climate change increases the need for an
integrated approach to open space planning.
It has amplified the need for and the
accessibility of public open space for habitat,
social and recreational opportunities. The
full range of benefits and uses of open
space should be considered across all
Council planning to include interactions with
transport, urban development, social planning,
energy use and hydrology (DSE 2009).
According to most recent scientific research
global warming is already influencing
our climate (DSE 2009). As well as higher
temperatures and reduced rainfall, there
is expected to be an increasing frequency
of extreme weather events, which we are
already experiencing, leading to a higher risk
of bushfire, inland flooding, and the frequency
of very hot days. It is not clear that the recent
drought conditions were a result of climate
change, however it is possible to say that
climate change has exacerbated the impacts
of this low rainfall period.
How things are changing
for open space
Melbourne has recently come out of a drought
which saw rainfall drop by 11% over a 12 year
period resulting in water restrictions with
severe impacts for parks and sports grounds
(Parks Victoria 2009).
Landscapes which were once under regular
irrigation rapidly deteriorated. It also
severely impacted on private open space.
Sportsgrounds, generally a high water
use surface, were greatly impacted on.
They were under regular monitoring to ensure
safe surfaces for play which included limiting
use for training and changing of all ovals
to warm-season turf to improve turf cover
over summer.
There has also been a shift to using artificial
turf to replace natural turf, particularly
for high intensity sports and social spaces
(including kindergartens). Although this
provides a year round surface, it is a relatively
expensive option for grass replacement. The
value of artificial turf needs to be weighted up
with issues of high temperatures emanating
from the surface, maintenance costs, change
in types of injuries, and the loss of the
environmental benefits of the natural surface
all need to be considered.
Another factor which is changing is the
development of smaller/no residential
backyards, as a result of greater housing
intensification. It is occurring quicker than
anticipated due to higher than expected
population growth (Melb @5m). This has the
potential to lead to an increasing use of open
space due to the reduction in yard size.
There is also an increase in demand for
large organised events in parks, such as
Lake Reserve, Coburg, to improve social
inclusion within the municipality. As there
are limited open spaces with the capacity to
hold such events, those where events occur
are beginning to see the effects on vegetation
from overuse, as well as impacting on passive
enjoyment of parks.
Melbourne is currently experiencing milder
conditions and in 2011 it was the wettest year
across the water catchments in 3 decades
(Melbourne Water 2012) seeing water levels
increasing by 13%. Moreland has experienced
significant heavy summer deluges which have
seen the Creek systems at capacity causing
minor localised flooding and damage to bridge
infrastructure and vegetation as well as
increased erosion.
There will be an increasing need to develop
strategies to slow water, potentially through
wetlands and plantings, and continue
efforts to reduce water runoff from the built
environment into the catchment.
All these issues will continue to place greater
pressure on our landscapes.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
23
Urban Heat Island effect (UHI)
The ‘urban heat island’ effect is a separate
issue from global warming. It effect is being
magnified due to the increasing density of
buildings and hard spaces, particularly in
the urban environment, and loss of greenery
particularly on private land.
Design of the urban fabric will need to be done
in an increasingly innovative way to try and
limit the increase of the UHI effect.
Further innovation and research is required
in alternative landscapes, such as rooftop
gardens and green walls, to meet the difficult
climatic conditions in the urban environment.
Currently rooftop gardens in Melbourne are
a challenge to keep functioning in a cost
effective way. Research by the University of
Melbourne is currently underway into plant
survival and the cooling benefits of rooftop
gardens and the outcomes of this research
will greatly benefit design outcomes for
urban landscapes.
This type of landscape treatment should
be seen as an important adjunct to more
appropriate and cost effective means of
landscaping i.e. adequate spaces for trees
within sites and streetscapes to ameliorate
the UHI effect.
Urban parks can help offset local heat effects
of global warming. Research has shown that
urban areas can be up to 12° C warmer than
more rural surroundings due to the heat given
off by buildings, roads and traffic, as well
as reduced evaporative cooling, in what is
commonly referred to as an urban heat island.
Climate modelling undertaken by the
University of Manchester has indicated that an
increase of 10% in the amount of green space
in city centres could reduce urban surface
temperatures by up to 4° C, enough to offset
predicted temperature rises in those areas
until the 2080s.
24
Associated with this is the capacity for green
spaces to help ameliorate extreme weather
events (heat waves, flash floods and high
winds), events which are predicted to increase
in frequency and severity as a result of global
warming. This can be achieved through
planting of trees to shade structures and high
use areas; design and planting of areas along
creeks to slow flood waters; and, planting of
buffer areas to reduce wind speed, as well as
reduce water evaporation of the landscape.
In a recent study by Monash University, they
undertook a spatial vulnerability analysis of
urban populations to extreme heat events
across Melbourne. Moreland was identified
as having large areas of the municipality
susceptible to heat related illnesses
and morbidity.
The vulnerability index was constructed using
indicators of health, social and environmental
risk factors. Five key indicators were
identified; these are areas with large numbers
of aged care facilities, areas with families
speaking a language other than English at
home, areas where elderly people live alone,
suburban areas rather than high-density inner
suburbs, and areas with a high proportion
of elderly and very young citizens (who are
identified as the most vulnerable).
It was identified that the impact of UHI could
exacerbate the impacts of high temperatures.
UHI can be amplified by poor building design
and urban planning resulting in high density
housing with limited green spaces.2
2. Loughnan, Nicholls and Tapper, 2009.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
Value of trees
The benefits of vegetation on urban
microclimates and infrastructure are finally
being recognised according to Greg Moore
(2007). They should not only be viewed as
being valuable for shade, but also for wind
protection and for their biodiversity and habitat
role. The role of trees as filters for pollutants,
improving the quality of air, reducing wind
speed and influencing water infiltration and
absorption are the subject of research.
The presence of shady trees can also increase
the useful life of asphalt pavement by 30%
(Killicoat, Puzio and Stringer 2002)
(in Moore 2007).
It is also important to note that there is a very
strong relationship between vegetation and
energy efficiency in buildings, so that trees will
have a vital role in addressing issues related
to energy balance. (Moore 2007)
The value of indigenous plants in the urban
environment, particularly for habitat values,
cannot be doubted however it should be noted
that the temperature ameliorating effect of
indigenous vegetation is less than that of
exotic European vegetation, although the
water requirements of indigenous vegetation
are often substantially lower. There is only
one native tree that is truly winter deciduous
and drought tolerant (White Cedar, Melia
azederach) however some native species
provide dappled light. To gain the most benefit
of winter sunlight having a native or exotic
deciduous tree on the north and western
faces of buildings provides the most
effective solution.
In the longer term it is possible that urban
trees will find additional roles in strategies
to adapt to climate change, including the
potential to provide for offsetting of carbon.
Nevertheless, the current need to protect the
liveability of Moreland will include ensuring
our urban forest is increased and protected.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
25
Biodiversity
Water
Loss of biodiversity is a real threat in a
changing climate. The effects of climate
change on biodiversity will occur at many
different levels – from individuals to
ecosystems. Species may alter distribution,
abundance, behaviour and the timing of
events such as migration or breeding.
The most susceptible species will be those
with restricted or specialised habitat
requirements, poor dispersal abilities or
small populations.
Melbourne is likely to experience significant
reductions in its water supply due to drought
and the impact of climate change.
(CSIRO 2009)
Combined with the common issues in the
urban environment such as increasing housing
density, loss of backyards (which often provide
good habitat linkages for fauna in particular),
loss of open space to infrastructure to provide
for community facilities, generally make it
difficult to maintain biodiversity. It will become
increasing important to provide refuge and
connectivity of habitat for biodiversity.
In some areas there may be scope for
further combining habitat benefits with trail
networks linking to other the larger open
space areas. Waterways and railway lines
are already significant corridors which fulfil
these functions and to improve on this and to
use other path networks as an opportunity
to increase this function both laterally and
longitudinally will become more important.
Other opportunities such as street landscapes
may also be designed to perform and/or
support this function.
Over the past 50 years we have seen a
reduction in rainfall in southern and eastern
Australia, more frequent heatwaves, fewer
frosts, an intensification of drought conditions,
and a small rise in sea level. Many people
are noticing the impact of these changes in
their daily lives, through things such as water
restrictions, higher prices for fresh food,
flowers blooming out of season, and regular
stories of extreme weather events in the
news (CSIRO 2009).
The collective impact of increased water
evaporation from plants and soil and the
decrease in rainfall is also likely to diminish
soil moisture. Combined with more extreme
rainfall events it is also likely that this will
lead to high levels of water runoff, limited
infiltration of water through soil and an
increased possibility of flooding events.
To manage these issues we will need to
carefully consider how and when we use
water. It is not a case of stopping using water,
it is about how efficiently and effectively we
use it to achieve the desired outcome.
Climate change will also have indirect impacts
on biodiversity. There may be increased
pressure from competitors, predators,
parasites, diseases and disturbances
(such as bushfire or drought). It is likely to
influence the composition of ecosystems and
their distribution by altering water flows in
rivers and wetlands and the occurrence of
bushfires and floods.
Climate change is likely to amplify existing
threats such as habitat loss and invasive
species, making their impacts
considerably worse.
26
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
Trees should not only be
viewed as being valuable
for shade, but also for
wind protection and for
their biodiversity and
habitat role. The presence
of shady trees can also
increase the useful life of
asphalt pavement by 30%.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
27
Changing recreational activities
Changing lifestyles is resulting in changes
to recreational activities, placing more
pressure on existing land and resources.
Key trends include:
• People’s use of open space for outdoor
recreation has steadily increased in recent
years. Walking and cycling have grown
rapidly and are the most popular forms
of exercise in terms of broad community
participation (Parks Victoria 2009).
• Participation rates in the most popular
organised sports have increased significantly.
• There has been strong growth in soccer
participation and junior participation outside
school hours for team sports generally.
• Based on age profiles alone, the highest
demand for adult participation in popular
team sports would be expected over the
next 25 years.
Other types of outdoor recreational activities
have grown strongly in recent years, including
dog exercising, organised outdoor groups/
personal training, community events and
festivals and needs to be facilitated and
managed in spaces provided by Council.
Use of other government land and
role of the private sector
Most land set aside for outdoor recreation is
either owned and managed by local councils,
or owned by the Crown and managed by
committees of management, (including
Council or Department of Sustainability
& Environment).
However, parcels of land owned by other
government agencies and the private sector
also play an important role in serving
recreational needs, which include:
• flood-prone land, wetland conservation
areas, and pipe-tracks owned by Melbourne
Water, for example Jacana Wetlands
• private outdoor sporting clubs (e.g.
Northern golf course, tennis clubs)
• school sports grounds (public and private)
• church sports clubs (e.g. tennis)
• railway land used for walking and cycling
• other surplus government agency land
(e.g. Vic Roads) used as parkland
There is often little or no long-term security
relating to the use of other categories of
government or private sector land for outdoor
recreation. Other government and private
organisations do not have a core responsibility
to provide land for public open space and
recreation. Examples of land lost from outdoor
recreational use, and/or barriers faced by
local councils and communities in gaining
access to this land, include:
• the complexity of legal agreements for
joint use of school facilities and reliance
on informal arrangements
28
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
• lack of suitable infrastructure for school
sports grounds to be opened up to
community use
• sale and/or loss of school sports grounds
through redevelopment – both public
and private – and subsequent reliance
by schools on council grounds
• difficulties in negotiating access
arrangements with government agencies
(e.g. Melbourne Water, Vic Track) due
to legal liability concerns and lack of
agreement on funding for maintenance
• private and church sports clubs (e.g. bowls,
croquet clubs) being lost to redevelopment
• The Victorian Environment Assessment
Council (VEAC) investigated Crown and
public authority land in the Melbourne
metropolitan area. It has identified
and assessed the uses, resources and
conditions, values and management of
this land. As well as assessing the values
of specific parcels of land, the report has
considered the contribution of Crown
and public authority land to Melbourne’s
liveability. The final report by VEAC, named
the Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation,
was released by the State Government in
August 2011.
The report has taken into consideration
Council land and public land and one of
the findings is that all vegetated public
land contributes to Melbourne’s liveability,
including nature strips, pocket parks, strips
beside roads and railway lines. It also noted
the importance of treed areas of public land
and water bodies for ameliorating the urban
heat island effect is likely to increase in
Melbourne as urban densification increases
and the climate warms.
Protection of open space
against loss or alienation
The Subdivision Act 1988, 20 (4) states that
public open space (acquired through the
provisions of the Act), can only be used for
municipal purposes in accordance with the
planning scheme, or sold only if the Council
has provided for replacement open space.
There is the additional barrier to sale of public
parks due to the need to rezone the land, so
actual sale of public parkland is rare and
normally only carried out after considerable
public consultation and with a clear plan to
replace the land with open space of greater
benefit to the community as a whole.
An important issue for open space is the
incremental ‘loss’ of open parkland to indoor
sporting and other council community
facilities and car parks. There is often
pressure to find locations for new facilities
and respond to residents’ concerns about
on-street parking and provision of community
facilities. The current planning provisions
currently allow for a wide range of permitted
uses on open space. It is critical for council to
commit to protecting open space and to seek
alternate sites for infrastructure, particularly
if they do not relate to open space activities.
‘Poor quality or under use are not reasons
for considering open spaces for other uses’
(Page 31, CABE Space 2009)
For Moreland, there is an uneven spread of
open space and as with other established
suburbs there is generally a lower provision
of open space per capita. It is also noted that
without the retention and creation of open
space on both public and local council lands
that public open space per capita will decrease
over time, and again for Moreland this is likely
to be exacerbated by population increases
and the limited scope to create additional
open space.3
3. Victorian Environmental Assessment Council, 2011.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
29
Inadequate asset
management in open space
Generally most asset management in open
space has been undertaken indiscriminately
(usually when the asset fails) with the
exception of the Play Equipment Inventory
which documents the condition and
replacement schedule for all play equipment
in Moreland’s open space over a five
year period.
This ad hoc approach has lead to an overall
decline in many open space assets to a
point where there are a great many poorly
maintained assets requiring substantial
refurbishment or complete replacement.
Another aspect of this issue is that funds have
not been put aside to adequately cover the
depreciation of the assets for asset renewal
in open space.
30
Council is currently developing an Open Space
Asset Management Plan. The key issue for
open space is to ensure that not only physical
assets are captured, but to include all assets,
such as trees, turf areas, garden beds,
indigenous vegetation. This will give Council
the ability to plan for the deterioration of all
assets. It will also provide Council with an
asset value for open space and if any works
are to be undertaken/or damage done to
assets in open space it will give a value of the
asset for referral/prosecution purposes.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
The current planning
provisions currently
allow for a wide range
of permitted uses on
open space. It is critical
for council to commit to
protecting open space and
to seek alternate sites for
infrastructure, particularly
if they do not relate to open
space activities.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 4. Emerging issues for open space
31
5. T
he open space
planning framework
32
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 5. The open space planning framework
Classification
of open space
To assist with planning and the assessment
of the distribution and quality of open space
in Moreland, each open space is classified
according to the following:
• Function (or purpose in the network, that
reflects the core benefits to residents)
• Landscape setting (form)
• Catchment (sphere of influence), and
• Settlement type (the nature of residential
settlement in which it is located)
These classifications provide a tool to analyse:
whether a space is fit for purpose; distribution;
diversity of experiences and opportunities;
enhance equity in provision; and evaluate
specific qualities of open space to compare
with demand. Further context behind these
classifications and definitions can be found
in Appendix 2: Classifications and core levels
of service.
Function type
Function type is the primary purpose of the
open space within the network. Open space in
Moreland is divided into eleven categories:
1. Accessway / shared trail
2. Social / family recreation (or play)
3. Sport
4. Civic gathering / forecourt
5. Conservation (flora and fauna)
6. Heritage
7. Memorial park / cemetery
8. Relaxation / contemplation / visual amenity
9. Utility / drainage, or floodway
10. Community horticulture
11. No identified function
(see Table 5: Definitions and Examples
of Function Types in Moreland on page 119 )
Each function of open space has specific
characteristics, which reflect specific types
benefits sought through open space.
Characteristics of each open space function
type (such as size, location, quality and
distribution) that ensure a space is fit for
purpose, are set out as core service levels
for each catchment level. These can be used
for the analysis of existing spaces and the
planning of future of open spaces in Moreland
(see Appendix 2: Classifications and core levels
of service on page 118).
When these open space function types are
mapped, it is possible to see if residents are
likely to have access to open space that can
provide each specific benefit, and whether
areas are without access to different types of
open space (see Map 2: Provision of Open Space
on page 42).
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 5. The open space planning framework
33
Landscape setting
Catchment
Landscape settings reflect the predominant
vegetation type and experiences that are
created by an open space’s particular form,
rather than its intended function. Landscape
setting is a significant determinant of the
experience gained by the user. Ten categories
of landscape setting type have been used:
Open spaces have their own sphere of
influence due to a number of factors such as
size, uniqueness, and the nature and scale
of facilities provided.
1. Open grassy area
2. Treed parkland
3. Paved area
4. Waterbody / wetland
5. Lawn or managed turf
6. Specialised sports surface
7. Ornamental garden
8. Bushland / native grassland
9. Vegetable garden / farm, or
10. Rough natural area
(see page 120 for definitions)
By consciously acknowledging the nature
of the landscape setting type, and analysing
this across the network it is possible to
strategically identify opportunities to modify
sites to add interest, diversity or create
specific experiences that may be missing
from a local area (see Map 3: Public Open
Space Landscape Type on page 44 for existing
landscape types of Moreland).
34
Each open space has therefore been classified
according to its catchment, how far people
are likely to travel to it, and how long they
are likely to stay. This determines what
facilities are needed and at what standard,
and how often the open space may need to
be maintained.
The catchment of each open space is described
in Moreland as local, district and regional.
Local and district space is the predominant
catchment in Moreland, however the Merri
Creek Linear Reserve could be considered to
have Regional park characteristics.
Local open space predominantly serves
the immediate local catchment, district
open space serves a group of suburbs, and
regional open space describes areas that
serve regional catchments, i.e. the whole of,
or broader than, the municipality (see Map 1:
Provision of Open Space on page 42).
Settlement type
The nature of the surrounding settlement
or context in which open space is provided
determines the model of open space provision,
based on: the amount of private open space
residents are likely to have; housing density;
recreation opportunities available; and
landscape character. These affect how people
use public space, and benefits they seek
from it.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 5. The open space planning framework
When additional residential development takes
place Council should assess the surrounding
nature of settlement before determining the
nature of public open space that should be
provided. The categories of settlement should
reflect housing density, and the nature of the
planning zone: i.e. mixed use, commercial
and industrial where public open space may
be required.
Residents in higher density development may:
• be exposed to higher levels of noise, and
less privacy
• have access to smaller areas of private
open space, especially that which is
suitable for physical activity and pets
• be affected by not being able to see
open space if small (or not available),
or having access to minimal sunlight
due to overshadowing buildings
Observations have shown residents of new
medium or high density dwellings adjacent to
open space tend to use public space as private
or communal space. The size of parks and
their design in these locations must ensure
public users are not displaced and conflict
between activities does not occur.
Medium and high density dwellings sited
adjacent to parkland must respect the need
for clear separation of private and public
space, solar access, light, views and access
for residents behind the higher dwellings that
may abut a park. Generally a path or minor
road should separate private development
from open space with buildings orientated
to overlook the park.
Where existing residential areas are being
redeveloped for higher density housing the
chances of obtaining public open space are
more limited due to:
• The possibility that existing subdivision
has already provided an open space
contribution, and no further contribution is
able to be levied
• The lack of perceived importance of open
space as a land use, and its high value
for housing
• The size of land parcels being developed
are often small
• The cost of both land and challenging
developers
In Moreland these residential settlement types
have been identified as suburban, medium /
higher density and activity centres. Suburban
relates to the residential suburbs of Moreland,
medium / higher density relates to areas of
higher residential density located closer to
commercial centres, and activity centres are
areas with a concentration of commercial
and other higher density land uses. However,
Moreland is also experiencing higher densities
in the residential hinterland as well and this
will need to be monitored to assess the impact
on open space provision in these areas.
Core levels of service
Core levels of service establish quantitative
and qualitative criteria for each key open
space function to ensure the space can be fit
for purpose. These service levels focus on
spaces needed close to residents: social /
family recreation, sports, and shared trails,
and the distinction between spaces of each
function at the local, district, and regional
catchment level (see Appendix 2: Classifications
and core levels of service on page 118).
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 5. The open space planning framework
35
6. S
upply of open
space in Moreland
36
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
Current provision
of open space
in Moreland
In the City of Moreland there is an estimated
839ha of open space. This includes local
and district level parks utilised for a range
of functions, sports reserves, open space
adjacent to the Merri and Moonee Ponds
Creeks, and large individual areas at
Northern Golf Club, Fawkner Memorial Park,
and Northern Memorial Park (see Map 1:
Provision of Open Space in Moreland on page 42).
Currently there is 6.2ha of open space per
thousand residents in Moreland (4.2ha publicly
accessible open space not including restricted
access land such as the Northern Golf Course
and the Fawkner Memorial Park).
Some 200.2ha of open space is provided
specifically for sport and recreation.
This equates to 1.5ha per thousand residents.
Municipality overview
Distribution of open space
The primary function of spaces has been
mapped as a tool to indicate a point in time
distribution of open space benefits, and the
diversity of opportunities.
As some spaces provide multiple values
this analysis provides only a high level
assessment.
The distribution of public open space by
function across the municipality is shown in
Map 2: Moreland Public Open Space by Function
Type (page 43).
For the key open space functions needed
close to home, distance thresholds have
been identified by function. These have been
applied to each open space to determine the
distribution of open space as an indicator
of how far residents should be expected to
travel to a space.
Significant open space exists in adjacent
municipalities, including at Royal Park;
Princes Park; and along Moonee Ponds
and Merri Creeks, which provide valuable
open space access to local residents and
environmental benefits for Moreland. It is
therefore important for Moreland to work with
adjacent municipalities to protect and enhance
these open spaces and maintain access.
Additional private open space is provided in
school sites. The importance of these spaces,
particularly for young people’s use after hours,
should not be overlooked and Council should
work to develop Memoranda of Understanding
with schools where there is a deficit of
accessible open space.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
37
This strategy recommends that open space
is provided within 500m of all residential
properties, and 300m of all activity centres.
Due to the specific requirement to provide
some function types, shared trails within
800m; and sports reserves within 1km of
all residential properties.
Areas of Moreland not adequately served by
open space within the stated distance have
been mapped (see Map 5 Open Space Strategic
Priorities on page 46).
This provides the basis for seeking additional
open spaces or improving existing open space
and linkages to enhance accessibility to a
diversity of open space benefits.
Map 5 Open Space Strategic Priorities provides
an overall assessment of Moreland’s open space,
and priority areas for additional provision.
Whilst the distance thresholds are based on
the primary function of the open space, any
secondary function of existing uses should
be considered before further provision or
enhancements are made.
In addition, open space owned by other
authorities, such as schools, or open space
abutting Council boundaries should be
considered when determining strategies to
enhance provision. This includes significant
areas of open space along the Merri and
Moonee Ponds Creeks, at Jack Roper
Reserve (north of the Western Ring Road),
and Royal Park.
38
Analysis shows that sports reserves in the
municipality are generally well distributed
within a 1km catchment of residences. The
main exceptions to this are the Tullamarine
and Gowanbrae suburbs. Further pockets
where open space for sport is not well
distributed include the far north and far south
of the municipality (although access to other
municipality’s sports facilities is nearby),
North Brunswick, and the eastern edge of
Coburg. Note: The distribution of open space for
sport does not imply that that there is adequate
provision for specific sports.
Few areas are well served by social / family
recreation spaces, however some sporting
reserves and schools provide this as a
secondary function and these should be
further investigated to determine priority
areas for enhancing the quality and quantity
of social / family recreation spaces.
The highest priority area for considering
further social / family recreation space is
Fawkner and Glenroy.
Areas not well served by shared trails were
assessed. Whilst the Moonee Ponds Creek,
Upfield Railway Line, and Merri Creek provide
good trail access in a north-south direction,
additional east-west shared trails are needed
to provide a good distribution of off-road trails.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
Given Melbourne’s drought
prone climate, having
a policy on sustainable
water use on open space is
important. Sportsgrounds in
particular require irrigation
that ensures a playable
surface all year round.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
39
Diversity
The City has a relatively good distribution
and range of types of open space. It has an
unusually high quantity of land dedicated to
memorial parks, as these are regional assets
serving the whole of Melbourne’s north. For an
inner city Council, Moreland also has a good
resource of land reserved for conservation
of flora and fauna.
The area and number of open spaces serving
social / family recreation are less generous
and these are not well distributed.
The following table shows the number of open
spaces by function in Moreland.
The following table shows the number of
spaces by landscape setting type in Moreland.
Where there are no spaces for a landscape
setting type, or a proliferation of others there
is the opportunity for Council to identify other
sites to diversify to these settings (see Map 3:
Moreland Public Open Space by Landscape
Type on page 44).
Table 2. The total area, and percentage of area
of open space, by landscape setting types
Area
(ha)
% of
total
area
113
13.5
336.6
40.1
0.1
<1.0
17.5
2.1
179.8
21.4
Specialised sport surface
13.7
1.6
Ornamental garden
NIL
NIL
174.3
20.8
3.8
<1.0
Landscape Setting Type
Open grassy area
Treed parkland
Table 1. The total area, and percentage
of area of open space, by function type
Paved area
Waterbody / wetland
Primary Function Type
Area
(ha)
% of
total
area
Accessway / shared trail
26.4
2.5
Social / family recreation
(including play)
74.4
8.9
200.2
23.9
0.4
<1.0
190.1
22.7
20
2.4
204.5
24.4
Relaxation / contemplation
or visual amenity
35.1
4.2
Utility / drainage floodway
64.6
7.7
Community horticulture4
3.8
<1.0
19.4
2.3
Sport
Civic gathering / forecourt
Conservation (flora and fauna)
Heritage
Memorial park / cemetery
No identified function
Lawn or managed turf
Bushland /native grassland
Vegetable garden / farm5
The following maps illustrate the distribution
of open spaces by function types, and setting
type and the priority areas where distribution
should be addressed.
The City also has a relatively good range of
spaces based on landscape setting type.
There is a surprising quantity of treed
parkland or bushland, considering the
distance from the CBD. A large proportion of
this area is the Fawkner Memorial Park, for
which Council is not responsible.
There are no spaces with an exotic ornamental
garden form (although the memorial parks are
quite ornamental), and there are few paved
open spaces.
40
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
The extensive use of
sustainable horticulture
and the use of indigenous
plants for habitat creation
have reinvigorated all our
parks, providing a diversity
of experiences for our
community and providing
valuable habitats that have
brought back many native
birds and other wildlife.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
41
Map 1: Provision of Open Space
42
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
Map 2: Public Open Space
Primary Function Type
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
43
Map 3: Public Open Space
Landscape Type
44
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
Map 4: Indigenous Vegetation
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
45
Map 5: Moreland Open Space
Strategy Strategic Priorities
46
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
There will be an increasing
need to develop strategies
to slow water, potentially
through wetlands and
plantings, and continue
efforts to reduce water runoff
from the built environment
into the catchment.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
47
Analysis shows that sports
reserves in the municipality
are generally well distributed
within a 1km catchment
of residences.
48
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
Open space
supply by suburb
Brunswick
Brunswick (including North Fitzroy) has
80.3ha of public open space, a significant
proportion of which is the Merri Creek
Linear Reserve.
The suburb has the highest provision in the
municipality for social / family recreation
open space, with major sites located at Gilpin
Park, and Jones Reserve. CERES Community
Environmental Park performs a community
horticulture/ farm and as social family /
recreation as a significant secondary function.
Sport is generally well distributed in
Brunswick, except in the very south of the
suburb; however Royal Park south of the
municipality provides open space for sport.
A significant piece of open space for
Brunswick is the Brunswick Central
Parklands, made up of Gillon Oval, Raeburn
Reserve, Brunswick Park, Clifton Park,
and Gilpin Park. The area serves both the
residential and industrial areas. It is a
significant sporting precinct, with a desire
to include a skate park, and Gilpin and
Brunswick Park being key passive recreation
sites. Linkages through, to and around the
whole precinct are critical for the functioning
of this key open space network.
Due to the increasing density of the population
in Brunswick and the already limited amount
of open space servicing the population it
will be critical to maintain the liveability of
the area. It will be vital to ensure that not
only the amenity of the existing open space
is protected, that sites are identified where
land could be purchased for open space or
improved linkages to open space.
Coburg
Coburg has 152.4ha of public open space. Two
major social / family recreation spaces, Lake
Reserve and Harmony Park, are located here.
Edgars and Merri Creeks provide the major
bushland open space in the suburb, with the
Upfield Railway Line providing another
valuable north-south oriented off road trail.
Only five parcels of social / family recreation
open space are identified in the suburb,
with Lake Reserve the most significant social
/ family recreation reserve in Moreland.
There are a large number of smaller spaces
with a play function, suggesting there is
scope for embellishment of some of these
spaces to cater for a wider range of age
groups and activities.
Coburg is relatively well served by open space,
however there are some small pockets with
poor access to open space, and key barriers,
such as Sydney Road, Bell Street and the
Upfield Railway that make it difficult to access
open space safely. Fawkner
The 87.4ha of open space in Fawkner is
comprises significant tracts of bushland and
open grassy areas along Merri Creek parkland
with several large sports reserves, including
Moomba Park and CB Smith and Charles
Mutton Reserves. It also includes Moreland’s
most diverse grassland reserve, Jukes Road
Grassland (Bababi Djininang).
Fawkner is least well provided for by
social / family recreation space (than all
other suburbs), particularly in the far
north of the suburb. Council could look at
upgrading some of the larger open spaces,
to provide a diversity of social and recreation
opportunities.
There are many small reserves dotted
throughout the suburb with very limited
diversity and this could be improved, including
some areas of ornamental style horticulture.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
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Glenroy
Gowanbrae
The 381.4ha of open space in Glenroy/Hadfield
is dominated by the Fawkner Memorial
Park site (202ha) and the privately owned
Northern Golf Course (53ha). Whilst providing
some relief from the built environment, the
Fawkner Memorial Park has limitations as
a recreational space. Both sites also contain
a significant amount of Moreland’s intact
remnant vegetation sites.
A significant amount of Gowanbrae’s 45.2ha
of open space has a visual amenity function,
and all spaces have either treed parkland or
open grassy area landscape setting, indicating
little diversity of opportunities or experiences
in the area.
Two significant areas within the suburb of
Glenroy have poor access to open space.
There is a large area particularly to the east
of the Glenroy Structure Plan area which is
close to the Northern Golf Course. This is a
crucial area to provide for open space and
the purchase of land should be considered to
cater for a large social family recreation space.
Many of the areas set aside for open space are
very steep and difficult to access, however the
three major reserves, Elms Court, Community
Centre and Riverside Walk should be further
developed, with good shared access paths
through the suburb to improve accessibility to
the reserves and to the key shared trails of the
Moonee Ponds Creek and the Western Ring
Road. Pedestrian and bike access to Oak Park,
particularly adjacent to Outlook Drive, should
be pursued.
The Northern Golf Course itself is a critical
green space and Council should look to
negotiate the development of a long perimeter
shared trail around the course.
The Gowanbrae Retarding Basin accounts
for over a third of Gowanbrae’s open space,
however as the site is primarily for drainage
it provides limited recreational opportunities.
Open space for sport is adequately distributed,
with Wallace Reserve providing the major
open space for sporting playing fields.
There are limited opportunities for sport (due
to the steepness of most of the open space)
and this is therefore a priority for provision for
Gowanbrae, or at least providing easier access
to the sports fields in Glenroy or adjacent
City of Hume.
Social / family recreation space is lacking in
this suburb. The amount of smaller spaces
with a play function, suggests there is scope
for improvements to some of these spaces
to cater for a wider range of age groups
and activities.
The suburb lacks any east-west shared
trails to link the main paths along Moonee
Ponds Creek and the Upfield Line. The
Broadmeadows railway line shared path
should continue to be pursued to provide
another north/south access route.
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
Oak Park
Tullamarine
Oak Park has 29.3ha of open space with large
tracts in Fran Street Reserve, Kingsford Smith
Ulm Reserve, John Pascoe Fawkner Reserve,
and Oak Park Sports Centre. These provide
sport and visual amenity functions. The area
lacks any social / family recreation space,
although the sports parks should be further
developed to provide this function.
Only a small residential area (0.4ha) in
Tullamarine falls within the Moreland
municipality. Only two parcels of open space,
Leicester Square Reserve and Malvern Avenue
Reserve, are found in the suburb which
services the immediate residential properties.
The Moonee Ponds Creek shared path
provides a valuable off-road trail through the
suburb. There is a need to improve access
between Oak Park and Gowanbrae through
bridges across the Moonee Ponds Creek and
improved connectivity.
As it is an isolated community and the open
space amenity is poor, Council should look to
develop one of the spaces as a social family
recreation space and provide a different
landscape setting for the other space to
provide diversity. Improved linkages to
both Gowanbrae and the Moonee Valley City
Council are critical for this community.
Pascoe Vale
Pascoe Vale has a relatively low provision
of open space (62.7ha). There is very limited
social / family recreation space, or space for
shared trails. A large area of the population
to the north and south of Bell Street has very
poor access to open space, particularly with
the barrier of Bell Street.
Council should look for opportunities to
acquire open space in the suburb where
possible, create safe linkages to open space
and diversify existing open space experiences.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 6. Supply of open space in Moreland
51
7. D
emand for open
space in Moreland
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
Implications of
demographic profile
on open space
The City of Moreland had a population in
excess of 147,000 people in 20114, spread
relatively evenly throughout the municipality.
Over the next 20 years, this number is
expected to increase by almost 20%, equating
to nearly 30,000 additional residents.5
In 2011, Brunswick Statistical Local Areas’
(includes Brunswick, Brunswick West and
Brunswick East) population was 45,123.
Coburg SLA’s (includes Coburg, Coburg North,
Pascoe Vale South and 80% of Pascoe Vale)
population was 51,098. North SLA’s (includes
Glenroy, Gowanbrae, Oak Park, Hadfield,
Fawkner and 20% of Pascoe Vale) population
was 51,024.
Over three quarters (79%) of the municipality’s
population growth is expected to occur in
the Brunswick and Coburg SLA’s, with the
North SLA only expected to account for 21%
of population growth. The most significant
growth is predicted to occur in Brunswick
and Brunswick East, with the populations
rising by 38.7% and 103.5% respectively.
This will result in higher densities in the
Brunswick and Coburg area. Opportunities
to secure land through Activity Centre
planning and further strategic work
undertaken to gain open space in rezoned
industrial use areas and redesignation
of spaces to create open space, i.e. road
closures, should be undertaken to ensure
adequate open space provision.
As greenfield development opportunities
is expected to be limited, Council may
need to identify alternative forms of open
space outside of the traditional green
areas to address gaps in provision, such
as piazzas or public common squares set
aside for active recreation use as part of
larger developments. However ‘greening’
opportunities should be maximised at all
times, particularly the provision of in-situ
trees in these more paved environments.
4. C ensus data for 2012 was used to update the demographic, age and
housing profile (the remaining data was not available at time of adoption).
5. City of Moreland Population Forecasts, .id Consulting Pty Ltd, 2011.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
53
Age profile
Housing
In 2011, the largest age group is that of
25-29 year olds, (more than 10% of the total
population), with 42.8% of this age group
residing in the Brunswick SLA. This is
expected to be the largest age group up until
2021. Between 2006 and 2011, this age group
showed the largest increase in population,
constituting 23.4% of the total population
increase during that period. To motivate this
age group to use open space social sports
opportunities such as hard courts and places
to skate and socialize, as well as off road trails
will be important. Teenagers needs in open
space have not been well addressed in the
past. They need spaces where they can meet
friends, see and be seen. Council’s oxygen
Project should continue to feed into open
space development to cater for youth needs.
There has been a significant increase in the
number of houses in Moreland, rising from
59,291 dwellings in 2006 to 63,302 in 2011.
The greatest rates of change in number of
residents by 2031 are expected to be in the
55-59 year and 85+ age groups. Physical and
outdoor recreation activity declines sharply
after 65 years of age, therefore to encourage
further recreation opportunities for this age
group a good distribution of accessible spaces,
safe places to walk and cycle, and appropriate
amenities, such as seating and shade will
be required. More horticultural based and
ornamental spaces or environmental focused
programs may also appeal to this age group.
The age of the additional population projected
is expected to vary significantly across the
three SLA’s. For instance, Brunswick is
projected to have a higher proportion of the
population between 20-40 years than northern
areas of the municipality. This is likely to
result in continued demand for a range of
dwelling types and open spaces across
Moreland. Council should be considering
these changes in age profiling in terms of the
pressure applied to open space.
With a continued diversity in age groups the
development of more intergenerational social
/ family recreation open space (which have
the capacity to accommodate a range of age
groups, activities and users),will be important,
especially in higher density and retail areas.
Households across Moreland have changed
over the past decade with a marked increase
in lone person households, particularly in
the south of the municipality. The majority
of households in the north of the municipality
are still families and Council should continue
to make spaces and activities convenient,
provide social activities and outlets in open
space and ensure information is available
to promote the social and health benefits
of use of the open space.
Income and education
Income is a significant indicator of leisure
behaviour and likely to affect the use of
open space. Families with higher disposable
incomes are more likely to spend money on
travel, membership fees and equipment to
participate in sport and outdoor recreation
activities. Lower income families may also
have a lower perceived value of open space,
particularly in the health benefits accrued from
use, and be constrained by lack of transport
and other barriers in using open space.
As expected, income is linked to levels of
education, and recreation participation
is significantly higher for higher income /
education residents.
The majority of residents in Moreland fall into
the bottom half of individual income groups,
with almost 55% of the population being in the
medium lowest ($10,673 to $24,976) to lowest
income quartiles ($0 to $10,636)6. Glenroy,
Fawkner, Hadfield and Coburg North have
significant pockets of disadvantage. Average
individual income decreases further north.
Brunswick residents have an average individual
income of $47,713; northern residents have
an average individual income of $42,992.
Considerable interventions will be required
to increase use and value of open space by
people with low incomes who often also
experience other forms of social disadvantage
because they may be new arrivals or have a
disability or language barrier for example.
6. City of Moreland Community Profile, .id Consulting Pty Ltd, 2011.
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
Some 47.3% of Moreland’s population has no
formal qualifications. These figures however,
are changing with a decline of 8.2% in those
with no qualifications, and an increase of 5.4%
in residents with bachelor or higher degrees
since 2001.7
Council can address constraints to recreation
use for lower income / education residents
by providing more of an educational role and
improving accessibility to facilities through
its Active Moreland program.
Employment
Unemployment rates in Moreland generally
increase the further one travels from the
Melbourne CBD. In the March 2012 quarter,
Brunswick’s unemployment rate is 5.5%,
Coburg’s unemployment rate is 5.4%, and
northern areas, such as Glenroy, have
unemployment rates of 7.5%. There is also a
correlation with age, with affect those aged
under 25 years and over 55 years more likely
to be over-represented in unemployment
statistics than other age groups.
People who are unemployed may not have the
same opportunities as others to participate
in outdoor recreation activities away from
home, or have the same social networking
opportunities that lead to recreation
participation.
Council can express the social and health
benefits of involving the community in
recreation, through marketing and promotion
of activities that can be undertaken at low or
minimal cost to users in local open space.
Ethnicity and language
Moreland is characterised by a culturally and
linguistically diverse community with more
than one third (33.8%) of Moreland residents
born overseas8. This equates to some 49,750
people in 2011, and is projected to increase to
some 59,422 in 2031.9
The main countries of birth of current
residents in Moreland other than Australia
are Italy, India, Greece, and the United
Kingdom, however the main countries of
birth of new arrivals to the area differ from
these traditional groups. A high proportion of
new arrivals to Moreland are born in China,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Philippines and Iraq.
Over half the Moreland population (59%)
had both parents born overseas. The main
languages other than English spoken at
home are Italian, Greek, Arabic, Turkish
and Chinese, with just over half of residents
(54.8%) speaking English at home.10
Ethnicity has a strong influence on an
individual’s attitude to and participation in
recreation activity. Some cultural groups
have particular needs. For example, Muslims
will not use barbeques that may have been
used for the preparation of pork, and they are
not likely to have a dog as a pet. The strong
demand for sports such as soccer is an
indication of cultural heritage. Considerable
work is being done through Active Moreland to
encourage people born overseas to participate
in sport and recreation. A key focus will need
to be on education and information on open
space opportunities as well as addressing
barriers such as cost and accessibility.
8. City of Moreland Community Profile, .id Consulting Pty Ltd, 2011.
9. City of Moreland Population Forecasts, .id Consulting Pty Ltd, 2011.
7. City of Moreland Community Profile, .id Consulting Pty Ltd, 2011.
10. City of Moreland Community Profile, .id Consulting Pty Ltd, 2011.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
55
Community
preferences
and demand
Figure 2. Respondents levels of satisfaction with
aspects of open spaces and the built environment
90%
80%
56
10%
0%
Number of walking tracks in your local
area in parks and reserves
Over 80% of respondents were satisfied with
the number of walking tracks in their local
area (see Figure 2) however Council should
note the lower satisfaction with the
amenities provided.
20%
Design of footpaths and kerbs
Over half of respondents were satisfied
with each of the aspects of open space
and built environment given.
30%
Maintenance of footpaths and kerbs
Respondents were asked about their
satisfaction with open spaces and the
built environment.
40%
Number of shelters and shade provided
Amenity and facilities
50%
Number of benches or seatings for resting
Public consultation was undertaken through a
householder telephone survey in 2010 within
the Municipal Public Health Plan. A total of
613 Moreland residents between 18 and 54
were surveyed. Key findings from the survey
are as follows:
60%
Traffic Flow in your area
Summary
Respondents (%)
70%
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
For exercising
For children to play
To walk the dog
Leisure / recreation / sports
0%
For relaxation / stress release
Respondents were asked for what purpose
they use green spaces in Moreland (see Figure
3). The most common reasons for usage was
exercise, and for taking children along to
play. Other reasons related to other forms of
exercise such as walking the dog or general
leisure, recreation or sports. This emphasises
the range of function type and landscape
settings required for high usage of the open
space network. Around 1 in 10 reported they
use green space for relaxation or stress
release purposes.
40%
To socialise with family / friends
Only 4% reported that they never use green
spaces in Moreland. These respondents were
more likely to be male, particularly older
(35 to 54 years) males and those who have
obtained an education below Year 12.
45%
To ride bicycle
Usage of green space in Moreland was found
to be relatively frequent. Fifteen percent
reported that they use green spaces daily, 32%
reported 2-3 times a week, and 25% reported
once a week.
50%
As a thoroughfare / passing through
Respondents to the survey were asked how
often they use green spaces such as parks
and gardens in Moreland.
Figure 3. Reasons respondents frequent
green spaces
Respondents (%)
Usage of open space
57
20
Not convenient / close to home
13
Too late or dark after work
9
Don’t know where they are
4
Not well maintained
4
Due to weather / cold / mud
3
Have own yard / no need for park
3
Go to other / nicer parks
3
Lack of facilities
2
Unsafe / don’t feel safe
1
Medical / health reasons
1
No children’s play equipment
1
10%
No children / children older now
1
5%
Don’t go out much
1
0%
Overcrowded
<1
These results indicate that infrequent usage
is likely to be linked with personal preference
and /or lack of desire to use green spaces
followed by not convenient, not close to home.
Council must respond to the time constraints
placed on individuals through enhancing
accessibility to open space if use is to increase.
Respondents (%)
Figure 4. Aspects of public spaces or parks that
could be improved
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
Other
Prefer to do other things with
my time on the weekend
Nothing / Don’t know
25
Recreation facilitites
No particular reason
Respondents were asked what they would
most like to see improved or added to
public spaces or parks (see Figure 4). These
responses have been grouped into themes to
demonstrate whether they were more likely to
relate to particular themes more than others.
General amenities
29
Improvements to open space
Trees / Plants / Gardens
Too busy / work commitments / no
time
Shelter / Shade
Respondents
(%)
Reason for Infrequent usage
Whilst almost half of those who have obtained
an education below Year 12 had no particular
reason as to why they do not use green
spaces, they were also among those who
were more likely to give reasons such as they
are too busy / have work commitments (36%)
or they prefer to do other things with their
time (26%).
Toilets
Table 3. Reasons respondents do not frequent
open space
Those who speak a language other than
English at home were less likely to use green
spaces because they are too busy or have
work commitments (35%) compared with
those who speak English only at home (24%).
General cleanliness
Respondents were also asked why they don’t
use green spaces in Moreland more often
(see Table 3 below). The most common reasons
related to being too busy or preferring to do
other things with their time. A range of other
reasons were cited by a small number of
respondents such as parks not being well
maintained, feeling unsafe, or a lack of
park facilities.
Younger people aged 18-24 years were more
likely to report that they do not use green
spaces, because they do not know where they
are, and this was particularly the case for
younger females (21%).
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
Usage of green space in
Moreland was found to be
relatively frequent. Fifteen
percent reported that they
use green spaces daily,
32% reported 2-3 times a
week, and 25% reported
once a week.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
59
Of note was that 30% of respondents reported
that there was nothing (or they did not know)
what they would like to see improved.
This indicates a lack of awareness of open
space, something Council can address
through greater marketing and promotion.
Comments about recreation facilities were
most common; with 20% citing something
should be improved or added. Closer analysis
of this theme revealed these individuals were
most likely to cite more playgrounds / play
equipment / skate parks / or updated play
equipment, followed by better maintained
walking tracks. Further common themes
included: improvements to general amenities;
(specifically more seats); barbecues and
drinking fountains; comments related to trees;
plants and gardens (specifically in terms of
more green spaces, parks and gardens); and
better maintenance of parks and gardens;
and more trees.
Females in particular would like to see
improvements to the general amenities,
shelter / shade and general cleanliness
of public spaces and parks in Moreland.
General amenities was also more of a concern
among younger residents aged 18-34 years
whereas residents aged 45-54 years and those
from non-English speaking households were
more likely to suggest improvements related
to trees, plants and gardens.
Improvements to recreation facilities and
shelter / shade were more likely to be
mentioned by young families (youngest
child under 6 years).
60
Role of open space
Respondents note the most popular roles of
open space related to wildlife habitat / nature,
relaxation, and exercise / health / wellbeing.
There was an appreciation that open space
can and should meet both human and nature
conservation needs. Habitat links were
regarded as of vital importance, with the
use of indigenous species widely supported.
There was also a strong recognition of the
creeks as part of both open space and water
management systems, with an emphasis on
water quality issues.
Adequacy of provision
Variation in the availability of open space
throughout the municipality has been
recognised as a key issue for residents.
Generally there is a desire for more open
space, and strong support for the principle
of an equitable distribution throughout the
municipality. Some areas have access to
inadequate open space, and areas where
increasing housing densities will mean an
increased need for more open space.
It was suggested that many areas could
support a higher level of use for a wider range
of activities. Through better links between open
space areas, and between open space and
adjoining uses, open space could also be made
more available to a wider range of people.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
While there was a desire for more open
space, most people saw this as unrealistic
and therefore suggested ways of increasing
the diversity, quality and accessibility of
what already exists.
Many respondents questioned the relative
allocations for different uses in open
space, suggesting that there is a need
for more informal recreation areas, more
multi-use areas and fewer single-purpose
sporting grounds.
Loss of areas used as open space but not
reserved for this purpose was a concern
throughout the municipality, as was the
selling of government land.
A large regional park was also proposed.
Co-operative planning across municipal
boundaries and within the region was seen
as a way of providing more open space
opportunities without necessarily acquiring
more open space.
New opportunities for open space provision
were generally seen as being limited to the
better use of other urban spaces such as
shopping centres, railway lines, and streets
as part of our open space network.
Quality and diversity of existing
open space
The quality of open space throughout the
municipality was regarded by respondents as;
variable. Whilst some high-quality areas were
identified, most were lacking in character and
distinctive design.
Whilst seen as important, small local parks
were most often seen by respondents as
being of poor quality, offering a sameness of
experience (i.e. grass and a couple of trees)
to park users.
Some open space areas were seen as not
adequately fulfilling their intended purpose
due to poorly designed and located facilities,
and the lack of basic amenity such as shade,
shelter, trees, and seats; and the frequency /
quality of maintenance.
Safety and feeling safe while using open
space emerged as a major issue for many
people, particularly, women and older
people. The main problems highlighted
were lack of lighting, lack of cleaning
(broken glass, syringes), and lack of
“supervision”. Unmanaged dogs off the
leash also rated highly.
An important theme to emerge was the need
to provide the means and resources to directly
involve local people and open space users in
redesigning open space areas. This can have
the effect of giving the community a sense of
ownership of a space.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
61
Unmet needs
Youth Spaces
The needs of older people are widely
recognised as being under-catered for in
Moreland’s open space. Meeting basic needs
such as seats with a view (perhaps near a
play area), shade, well-maintained paths and
providing a wider range of opportunities
was seen as vital to cater for Moreland’s
ageing community.
The oxYgen Project explores the possibilities
of creating youth spaces and services
in Moreland. The project is guided by a
committee of young people aged 12-25 years
old, and gives young people the opportunity to
have a say and influence decision making in
their own community.
Children’s play areas were seen as varying in
quality, with little diversity available across the
municipality. Small play areas close to home,
and spaces where informal ball games are
allowed were important. Play areas for older
children are perceived to be lacking. Social /
family recreation open space should cater
for a range of ages.
Playing in the street was once part of inner
city life, and safer streets where children can
play close to home was desired by many.
Local places, close to home and easy to
access on foot were seen as important for
older people and parents (generally women)
with young children. Larger, extended families
need larger clusters of facilities and an
environment that is safe and accessible for the
youngest through to the oldest person.
Creating more pleasant spaces along
neighbourhood streets, near shopping centres
and community venues was regarded as a
good opportunity to make better use of small
spaces for adults and children, create links
between open spaces, and make safer, more
pleasant neighbourhoods.
Research has been undertaken as part of the
oxYgen Project on the needs of youth issues
relating to open space including:
• The need to feel welcome and included in
the public realm (parks, shopping centres
and community facilities) and in schools
• General disappointment in the state of
Moreland’s streets, buildings and parks (old,
dirty, run down, unappealing, full of rubbish,
poor lighting, landscaping and signage)
• Suggestions to improve youth issues in
open space included:
• Improved maintenance and amenity of
parks and open space (more trees, shade,
seating, lighting, drink fountains, public art
and play equipment for older children and
teenagers, as well as more youth events
and festivals)
• More, or better sports facilities: soccer
fields; half basketball courts; BMX tracks
and skate parks; and indoor sports centres
• Youth friendly spaces especially for sport
and physical activity and formal organised
programs as well as places to hang out
and socialise
• A multi-purpose space that could be
used for a range of different activities by
a range of different groups that ensured
the physical safety and inclusion of
young people
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
• Several ideas emerged for open
space facilities:
• An adventure park
• Wild natural areas
• Performance spaces
• Lakes and water features
• A major park providing for a range
of informal recreation uses
• Places for quiet reflection
• Community allotment gardens
• Public art works
• Exercise and activity sites along trails
• Parkour
Information distribution
Survey respondents were asked to comment
on how they currently see or hear about
Council and community activities and how
they would prefer to receive information.
The majority obtain information from the
local newspaper (68%), which is relatively
consistent with how they prefer to receive
their information (53%). Other less common
sources included brochures or newsletters
in the mail, and there appears to be more
of a preference for the latter than current
behaviour suggests.
Electronic sources, specifically the internet
and / or email also ranked relatively highly
as preferred information sources although
this was not specifically linked with the
Council’s website.
Better information about what is available
was also seen as a key.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 7. Demand for open space in Moreland
63
8. K
ey Goals
and objectives
64
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
In taking all the issues and opportunities
raised in the body of the Open Space Strategy
the following goals and objectives formulate
the direction of the Strategy for the next 10
years and provide for the sustainable future
of our open space network for the community
and the environment.
Goal 1
Providing parks
close to home
There are social, environmental and economic
benefits of open space, especially when these
are provided in close proximity to residential
dwellings. In a heavily built environment like
Moreland, planning for open space in higher
densities, and an increasing population
is important.
With increased densities, and the absence of
open space sites from greenfield development,
forms of open space, and considerable
improvements will be required to meet future
demand for open space benefits close to home.
The Municipal Health Survey revealed that after
“no particular reason / doesn’t interest me”,
“inconvenient or not close to home” was a
major reason why survey respondents don’t
use Moreland’s open space11. It is therefore
important for to ensure access to parks within
500m safe walking distance to encourage
people to access open space.
Moreland’s residents must have a range of
open spaces accessible to them, including
sports reserves, social / family recreation
parks, and shared trails.
The open space distribution analysis identified
that much of the City does not have a social /
family recreation space or shared trail close
to home.
A broad range of open space function types
should provide a range of experiences to
encourage use, particularly as there is
an incremental ‘loss’ of open parkland to
development for indoor sporting and other
community facilities and car parks.
There is often pressure to find locations for
facilities and respond to residents’ concerns
about on-street parking and provision of
community facilities. The current planning
provisions currently allow for a wide range of
permitted uses on open space. It is critical for
Council to commit to protecting open space,
assess the benefits that will be eroded by
developments and to seek alternate sites for
infrastructure, particularly if they do not relate
to open space activities.
Goal 1: Objectives
• Incrementally acquire and develop open
spaces (where possible) to increase the
proximity of high quality parkland to
residential dwellings
• Ensure every household has safe and
convenient access to parkland for passive
recreation, quiet contemplation, sport and
access to nature
• Provide and protect quality open space
that provides a range of experiences
and accessible recreation opportunities,
natural and cultural heritage features,
and high quality park facilities and
landscape settings
11. Survey conducted for City of Moreland’s Municipal Health Plan
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
65
Goal 1: Strategy 1
−− Land in West Glenroy
Pursue opportunities to acquire local open
space in areas undersupplied by open space,
where densities and building heights are
increasing, or where dwellings occur in
mixed-use areas and activity centres
• Improve provision and access to functional
open space, within designated principal,
major neighbourhood and local activity
centres, by providing high quality open
space within 300m safe walking distance of
the activity centre
• Seek opportunities through urban
development to acquire open space in areas
underserved, as a priority for social / family
recreation parks, shared trails, and sports
• Prepare a land acquisition policy to guide
Council’s strategic acquisition of land for
open space and open space improvements,
including development contributions under
the Subdivision Act
• Investigate the acquisition of the following
sites / areas to address under provision of
open space in the neighbourhood/suburb:
−− Glenroy Primary School land
−− Land in Glenroy abutting Belair
Avenue Park
−− Land in Pascoe Vale South
−− Land in Pascoe Vale in the vicinity of
Windsor Street and Derby Street (or
develop a shared use agreement with
Pascoe Vale North Primary School)
−− Land in Brunswick East
−− Land in Coburg around O’Hea Street
−− Land in East Glenroy
−− Land in Hadfield
• Lobby Vic Track to transfer land to
Council as open space between Upfield
train line and Cameron Street running
from Moreland Road along the length of
Cameron Street
• Lobby Vic Track to transfer land between
Albert Street running along the Upfield bike
path and supermarket car park, to Council
as open space
• Lobby Jemena Power to transfer land at
Gervase Street, Glenroy to Council
• Purchase land and develop a small local
park in the vicinity of the corner of Reynard
and Portland Streets, Coburg
• Purchase land and develop a small
local park in the vicinity of Shirley Street
Fawkner
• Investigate sites designated for residential
redevelopment in rezoned industrial areas
or increasing employment in Industrial
areas and identify the need for open
space to be provided in conjunction with
redevelopment
• Council will advocate to the State
Government to implement the
recommendations of the VEAC report that
when surplus public utility land has been
identified as having environmental or social
value, that the Council be given the first
option on the land
• Incorporate key actions requiring advocacy
into Corporate Advocacy Program
−− Land fronting 33 Stewart Street,
Brunswick
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
Goal 1: Strategy 2
Goal 1: Strategy 4
Investigate the conversion of the following
Council owned sites to open space
Prepare a policy to guide the assessment
and disposal of any open space sites
a) Council owned car park on Stewart
Street, Brunswick
• Adopt the Melbourne 2030 Parkland Code
when assessing any surplus open space
b) Council owned car park in Breese
Street, Brunswick
c) Council owned car park on Edwards
Street, Brunswick
• Ensure the proceeds of sale of any open
space is used to fund priority improvements
and the purchase of other open space in
areas where there is a demonstrated need
Goal 1: Strategy 3
Goal 1: Strategy 5
Seek to ensure structure plans and strategic
redevelopment sites provide adequate open
space where building heights and densities
will increase
Protect the value and amenity of existing and
new open space and street landscapes
• Develop and adopt a standard approach to
determining what open space is required,
for what, where, and how it should be
provided
• Ensure the function and setting type of
spaces are determined in the structure
planning process
• Implement the open space
recommendations of the Brunswick,
Glenroy, and Coburg 2020 Structure Plans
• Develop implementation plans for open
space to improve provision and access to
local open space, including civic places,
within designated principal , major,
neighbourhood and local activity centres
• Ensure that any new developments, other
structures and car parks are setback and
provide no unreasonable overshadowing
of open space and street landscapes or
reduction in public access, maximise
interaction and passive surveillance
opportunities, and are responsive to the
existing site context
• Continue to encourage appropriate
development adjacent to open space that
enhances public surveillance, incidental
lighting, encourages use and enhances a
sense of security for users in the space
• Prepare guidelines and protocols to ensure
high quality and functional open space and
street landscape outcomes are achieved in
public parks and streetscapes established
as part of private or council development
projects, and that these complement
existing provision
• Develop and implement a reference
document to provide guidance for
planning decisions regarding appropriate
development, particularly for urban
consolidation projects, that may impact on
street landscapes and / or open space
• Implement Moreland’s Lighting Strategy
focusing on entrances, buildings and paths
where they provide a thoroughfare through
parks, on shared trails at intersecting
paths (minimal safety lighting to protect
habitat values), for sport (as appropriate)
and lighting will be of best practice
environmental efficiency
• Develop a Memorials and Monuments
Policy for open space and the public realm
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
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Goal 2
Having a mix of open
space types and
experiences
Providing a diversity of open spaces will serve
to ensure that Moreland’s diverse population
will continue to have a range of recreation
experience now and in the future.
By classifying open space by its function type
and landscape setting, a greater diversity
of spaces can be created and Council and
developers can be clearer as to what open
space is required to address deficiencies
or gaps in provision.
Open spaces that provide for social / family
recreation, sporting and shared trails is
of particular importance close to where
people live, to provide a range of accessible
recreational activities and restorative qualities
that enhance wellbeing. Further functions of
open space enable different types of benefits
and experiences to be generated.
The type of landscape setting or form of an
open space takes into account the physical
conditions and characteristics of the space.
Providing a diversity of these through the
open space network can enable different
experiences and influence the mood of the
participant.
Increasing residential densities will result
in changes to the amount of private open
space and incidental green space. Smaller
households, which are an increasing feature of
Moreland’s dwelling types, will also influence
the demand for open space. Council could
encourage further social opportunities in open
space to attract lone persons and seek to
improve and diversify existing open spaces to
respond to these changes. Council may not be
able to acquire traditional forms of open space
in areas of changing density; therefore the
specific benefits of open space may need to be
provided in alternative ways. This may include
well designed urban spaces in the activity
centres such as piazza style areas.
Goal 2: Objectives
• To maintain and develop a network of open
spaces that have a broad range of functions
and landscape settings reflecting benefits
sought by a diverse population
• Enhance the diversity of opportunities and
experiences in open space by classifying
their function and landscape setting
consciously modifying these to create
the best mix
• Enhance open space opportunities
to respond to changing residential
settlement types
Goal 2: Strategy 1
Enhance the diversity of experiences in open
space by determining preferred functions and
landscape settings of all spaces
• Analyse the distribution of spaces
by function and landscape setting to
determine omissions, duplications and
opportunities for varying experiences
• Undertake a comprehensive assessment
of the existing and potential public value
of poor quality, undeveloped spaces to
identify opportunities to diversify open
space uses, experiences and landscape
settings in those, or future development
or divestment actions
• Develop park management plans for each
open space function type, which includes
core service levels for sports reserves,
social / family recreation reserves, and
shared trails
Council should consciously look for
opportunities to diversify and provide choice
that encourages use of open space, to draw
users beyond their habitual activity space
and enable people to experience things not
naturally present in that context.
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
Goal 2: Strategy 2
Goal 2: Strategy 3
Provide a greater range of function types
and landscape settings within Moreland’s
open space
Seek to provide social / family recreation
open space
• Selectively develop outdoor recreation
facilities and enhance environmental
amenity of open space, to create a greater
diversity of experiences
• Endorse the range of open space functions
and corresponding core service levels to
ensure open space is fit for purpose, and
used as a planning tool to aid planning, site
selection and design and provide better
guidance to developers
• Increase the recurrent capital expenditure
program for playgrounds, including
upgrades and new facilities to meet current
safety standards, enhance accessibility and
provide diversity in play opportunities
• Ensure that public open space is protected,
and when existing public buildings /
facilities on open space are to be removed,
consider conversion of these areas back
to parkland
• Develop an assessment tool to determine
suitable use of Council land for the use of
community gardens
• Work with Council’s Social Policy Unit to
develop a Council policy on support and
resourcing community garden development
in Moreland
• If, in the view of the Manager Urban Safety,
significant conflict exists in a particular offleash reserve, then a review of that reserve
will take place and potential zoning of the
space will be investigated
• Redesign Gilpin Park for social / family
recreation (including dog walking) to
enhance recreational use and landscape
amenity and replace ageing infrastructure
• Rejuvenate Brunswick Park as a social /
family recreation open space, including
plantings, barbeque and shelter
• Review the Moomba Park Concept Plan
and continue to develop Moomba Park in
Fawkner, to provide a range of recreation
opportunities of district park standard to
meet the interests of sporting and other
user groups, and improve the social / family
recreation opportunities including access in
and around the site
• Develop a Recreation Plan for CB Smith
Reserve in Fawkner, to provide a mix and
range of recreational opportunities to
be accommodated in the whole precinct.
Include the soccer precinct and youth
space, and work towards improving open
space for social / family recreation, building
interfaces, playground provision and
pedestrian and traffic movement within
the precinct
• Upgrade Sewell Reserve, Glenroy as a
sportsfield with social / family recreation
space and general improvements to the
amenity around the periphery of the
open space
• Redevelop open space in Tullamarine
precinct as social / family recreation space
and provide pedestrian and cycle links to
Gowanbrae
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
69
Providing a diversity of
open spaces will serve to
ensure that Moreland’s
diverse population will
continue to have a range
of recreation experience
now and in the future.
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
Goal 2: Strategy 4
• Ensure appropriate access to and use of
sports parks
Improve the quality of existing open space
• Enhance the accessibility of the Coburg City
Oval, from Sydney Road and through the
site and to include seating, picnic facilities
and drinking fountains
• Prepare and implement redevelopment
plans for City Oval and Bridges Reserve,
to include a review of facilities required,
active recreation use, increased passive
recreation opportunities, and planting
• Plan for the redevelopment for active
and passive recreation at Bush Reserve
including incorporating the council-owned
house block to improve access into the park
and provision of the passive space to the
south of the block
• Develop a landscape redevelopment plan
for Merlynston Creek easement, Boundary
Road to Hosken Reserve, Coburg North,
including pathways, habitat provision, and
passive recreation opportunities
• Review and implement the Gowanbrae
Landscape Master plan to provide active
and passive recreation opportunities and
provide links to Glenroy, Oak Park and
Hume City Council
• Develop an active recreation plan for
the Central Brunswick Parklands, to
incorporate netball practice courts and
expansion of tennis courts within Raeburn
Reserve, and determine the best location
for youth space / skate park within the
Clifton / Gilpin precinct
• Undertake and implement Fleming Park
Development Plan to improve the open
space, maintaining active recreation
opportunities and review use of council
buildings on site
• Continue to improve the quality of playing
fields at Clifton Park, and to include
refurbishment of existing landscape,
improved seating and water fountains
• Redevelop Jackson Reserve including
upgrading H Stephens Athletic Complex
• Evaluate Richards Reserve and prepare
an open space redevelopment plan to
attract residents for active recreation,
and enhance amenity
• Prepare and implement a five-year
Sportsfield Infrastructure Capital Works
Plan to guide the annual sportsfield
upgrade and asset renewal program
throughout the City
• Review and implement the existing
documented heritage development plans for
Methven, Fleming and Warr Parks, including
implementing the recommendations of the
2009 Connellan report
• Improve the quality of experience in Mott
Reserve, Glenroy to attract residents for
social /family recreation
• Develop district level parks to service the
Glenroy, Gowanbrae and Pascoe Vale areas
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
71
Goal 3
Making places
for nature
Goal 3: Objectives
• Seek to provide better buffers between
urban development and waterways
Moreland’s waterways, most significantly
the Merri and Moonee Ponds Creeks, form
an integral part of the municipality’s open
space not just as a waterbody, but in the range
of open spaces provided along the creek
boundaries. Their importance is recognised
in Linking People and Spaces (Parks Victoria
2002) as requiring significant recreation and
conservation work.
Historically, waterways were treated as
drains and dumping grounds. Community and
Council support for the creeks restoration is
resulting in waterways being seen more as a
natural and community asset.
Only very small remnants of local-occurring
indigenous vegetation survive, as an
irreplaceable record of the landscape
prior to European settlement in Moreland.
The conservation and restoration of these
water bodies and natural areas is of central
importance in protecting habitats for flora
and fauna. Council must manage these assets
sustainably, and also sensitively consider
their recreational value for the Moreland
community.
In the conservation of the sensitive riparian
corridors, additional buffers between the
creek and adjacent residences and recreation
facilities will be required in some parts to
aid in the regeneration and manage
recreation use.
• Enhance the sustainability and
management of water corridors
• Seek to protect and improve the natural
habitat and ecological values of waterways
and natural areas complementing the
demand for provision of a diversity of
recreational settings and opportunities
along these corridors
• Protect and enhance the ecological integrity
and sustainability of Moreland’s natural
resources, particularly the creek corridors
and remaining areas of remnant vegetation
• Work collaboratively with Merri Creek and
Moonee Ponds Management Committees,
Melbourne Water, Friends of Groups, and
other authorities to ensure the protection,
management and improvement of
waterways and other important remnant
vegetation areas
Goal 3: Strategy 1
Undertake significant revegetation works along
creek corridors throughout the municipality
• Develop a strategic works program
for waterway revegetation for Edgars,
Merlynston and Westbreen Creeks, in
conjunction with the Creek Management
Bodies, Friends Groups and Melbourne Water
• Implement the Merri Creek Environs
Strategy (2010) as appropriate
• Implement the Moonee Ponds Creek
Environs Strategy (2011) as appropriate
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
Goal 3: Strategy 2
Enhance access to select areas of waterway
corridors to provide contiguous public
access where possible, whilst protecting
riparian habitat
• Develop a management plan for Westbreen
Creek, Pascoe Vale in line with the
Westbreen Creek Parklands Master Plan
• Prepare a conservation and development
plan for Edgars Creek identifying
appropriate recreational opportunities
along its reaches and including the
reclamation and revitalisation of natural
areas along Edgars Creek. Investigate and
provide opportunities to improve access
for use and maintenance of the area,
particularly on the eastern bank behind
the industrial estate
• As opportunities arise, acquire land to
create a vegetated buffer of a minimum
30 metres wide measured from the edge of
the embankment on each side of the creek
corridor along Merri Creek, Moonee Ponds
Creek, and Edgars Creek (where possible).
A minimum of 50 metres wide from the
creek edge on each side should be sought
to create a public open space corridor
Goal 4: Strategy 3
Protect and enhance remnant vegetation
and habitats in Moreland
• Implement priority actions from the
‘Moreland Indigenous Vegetation
Assessment 2011’
• Continue an active protection, management
and enhancement program for Moreland’s
remnant vegetation in the following sites:
• Jukes Road Grassland (Bababi Djininang),
Fawkner
• Outlook Drive, Glenroy
• Prepare and implement a Biodiversity
Strategy to identify priority measures
for the protection, restoration and
enhancement of native plant and animal
communities
• Continue to review and assess usage
and method of application of herbicides,
fertiliser and other chemicals in open space
with a view to minimizing impacts on nontarget species and stormwater quality
Goal 3: Strategy 4
Work with neighbouring Councils and other
authorities to enhance the value and health
of waterways
• Participate in the planning and
development of the ‘chain of parks’ along
Merri Creek, as proposed in Linking
People and Spaces (Parks Victoria 2002),
and the proposed major park north of the
Ring Road. Encourage the development
of a diversity of landscape settings for
recreation along the creek
• Advocate to Melbourne Water to undertake
bed and bank habitat restoration works
along the waterways, including the removal
and / or modification of concrete lining.
Undertake complementary works on
adjoining Council land where appropriate
• Support, participate in and resource
coordination committees / networks,
such as Merri Creek and Moonee Ponds
Creek Management Committees, to
undertake coordinated management of
the creek corridors.
• Construct a wetland for storm water
management and fauna and flora habitat
as per investigation undertaken on Merri
Creek (2009)
• Develop and implement fire management
plan with appropriate authorities,
particularly for the creek corridors
• Union Street Escarpment, Brunswick West
• Review and update the management plan
for the Jukes Road Grassland (Bababi
Djininang)
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73
Goal 4
A greener more
liveable Moreland
Green open space provides a relief from the
built environment and restorative qualities
important to the sense of well being. It also
encourages users to engage in physical
and recreation activity. Residential and
commercial development puts increasing
pressures on the provision and quality of
the open space network, and participation in
recreation. Council should identify methods
of retaining and enhancing the ‘green’
environment during commercial, industrial
and residential development.
Habitat corridors are vegetated corridors
(planted with indigenous vegetation where
possible) encouraging connectivity between
exiting open space / creeks to provide space
for species to function. Moreland’s open
space, more particularly its network of open
space along the creek corridors should serve
as habitat corridors. Links between the
corridors and further beyond the municipality
should be identified, as well as designing
street landscapes to perform more of a
habitat corridor function.
There are, however, opportunities to
reintroduce local plant species and create
wildlife habitats and increase tree canopies
within open space, particularly in undeveloped
areas and grassy reserves without an
established horticultural character.
The close proximity of green spaces to
where people live and the provision of trees
are becoming increasingly important for
restorative qualities and amenity value that
enhance relaxation and a sense of well being.
These in turn increase residents’ sense of
civic pride.
Goal 4: Objectives
• Protect, restore, and expand
interconnected open space corridors as
habitat corridors
• Increase the tree canopy across Moreland,
and the biodiversity and environmental
quality of the public domain
• Enhance the sense of civic pride and
wellbeing of residents by enhancing
landscape quality and views of green space
Goal 4: Strategy 1
Expand open space and streetscape corridors
as habitat corridors
• Identify east / west habitat corridors and
nominate appropriate streetscape species
to provide habitat links between the existing
creek and railway corridors
• Develop in partnership with the community
a master plan for the Upfield rail corridor
that will create a strong habitat link and
linear park
Indigenous plants can provide a range of
benefits. These include providing habitats,
enhanced ecological health and land
productivity, distinctive local landscapes
and sense of place, preservation of genetic
resources, and minimise the need for water
and fertiliser.
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
Goal 4: Strategy 2
Goal 4: Strategy 3
Increase tree canopy and improve tree health
to create an urban forest
Augment streetscape vegetation and enhance
environmental quality in urban development
to supplement public green space
• Monitor and develop a program to increase
the extent of tree canopy in Moreland
• Establish a Park Tree Management
Program to conserve, enhance, manage
and sustain the health and longevity of
trees in parks and reserves. This should
include an audit and assessment of works
required, a works schedule and staged
implementation
• Review, update and continue to implement
Council’s Street Landscape Strategy to
ensure landscapes are linked throughout
the municipality for amenity and
environmental needs
• Nominate trial areas for open space
horticultural improvements that assist in
ameliorating intense weather conditions
such as plantings for wind breaks, cooling,
and disseminating high water levels
• Where land development and increased
residential density cannot deliver additional
public or private green space, seek to
provide restorative qualities, access to
nature and greater residential amenity
through planning controls and works that:
• Increase tree canopy
• Enhance streetscapes and landscape
qualities within private and public
infrastructure developments
• Protect views to existing open space
• Establish minimum provisions of private
open space and permeable spaces for
residential areas above the standards
prescribed in ResCode and other higher
densities guidelines
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
75
The close proximity
of green spaces to
where people live
and the provision of
trees are becoming
increasingly important
for restorative qualities
and amenity value that
enhance relaxation and
a sense of well being.
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
Goal 5
Making the most of
open space through
effective management
The importance of Moreland’s open space
as a natural resource means that Council
must ensure it is protected and managed
for future generations.
Open space can be the setting for large
organised public events such as circuses and
festivals. Guidelines should be developed that
ensure consistent management of events that
are focused on retaining the environmental
quality of the space post the event. Likewise,
policy on commercial events is required,
that also focuses on the same
environmental outcomes.
The handing over of open space to Council
post the development process can result
in poor quality open space from the outset.
Council should set in place a consistent
procedure that includes a 12 month
maintenance period for developers, and
additional funding to ensure establishment
of vegetation and facilities. All Council staff
associated with the development process
should be aware of the particular open space
requirements involved in handing over the
open space to Council.
Where Council is not in control of the
ownership or management of open spaces,
areas of open space owned or managed by
other authorities can redress deficiencies in
overall provision, and provide diversity in the
landscape experiences offered.
In Moreland these areas include:
• Flood-prone land, wetland conservation
areas, and pipe-tracks owned by Melbourne
Water, for example Jacana Wetlands
• Private outdoor sporting clubs (e.g.
Northern Golf Course, tennis clubs)
• School sports grounds (public and private)
• Church and Social Club sports clubs
(e.g. tennis and soccer)
• Railway land used for walking and cycling
• Other surplus government agency land
(e.g. Vic Roads) used as parkland
There is often little or no long-term security
relating to the use of other categories
of government or private sector land for
outdoor recreation.
Other government and private organisations
do not have a core responsibility to provide
land for public open space and recreation, and
therefore negotiating public access to sites
can be problematic. Additionally, there can be
legal liability concerns and lack of agreement
on funding for maintenance.
In more community-centred examples such as
schools, and community and sporting clubs,
Council should foster relationships that utilise
any additional open space where possible.
Zoning Council open space as Public Parks
and Recreation Zones (PPRZ) will increase
regulatory protection from disposal or
adverse development.
Protection of water resources is an important
issue in light of climate change. Open
landscapes, such as sportsgrounds, which
were once under regular irrigation have been
greatly impacted on. Synthetic turf can be
considered in some circumstances although
should not be seen as the only alternative to
dealing with difficult conditions. Other open
space with enhanced visual amenity (i.e.
garden beds and civic spaces) should also be
maintained to a higher standard.
Water Sensitive Urban Design seeks to
integrate the natural water cycle into urban
planning and design. This is achieved through
measures such as incorporating stormwater
corridors into the landscape, and utilising
recycled water to irrigate open space. Council
should be guided by the principles of Water
Sensitive Urban Design in its maintenance
of open space.
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Goal 5: Objectives
• Protect public open space as an essential land
use through appropriate planning controls
• Increase the management of open space
to minimise conflicts in use
• Introduce more cost-effective, ecologically
sustainable, and community responsive
measures to managing public open space
• Ensure heritage parks are identified
and protected by/retain a Heritage
Overlay, including:
−− Bridges Reserve, Coburg
−− Brunswick Park, Brunswick
−− Lake Reserve, Coburg
−− Fleming Park, Brunswick
−− Jacobs Reserve, Brunswick
−− Methven Park, Brunswick
−− Shore Reserve, Coburg
Goal 5: Strategy 1
−− Temple Park, Brunswick
Ensure appropriate zoning and designation
of public open space
−− Warr Park, Brunswick
• Review the zoning of all public open
space owned by Council and ensure that
it is appropriately zoned in the Moreland
Planning Scheme
Goal 5: Strategy 2
• Review the Environmental Significance
Overlay (ESO) for Moonee Ponds and Merri
Creeks to ensure effective protection
• Negotiate with owners of other authority land
that Council maintains as public open space,
to ensure appropriate zoning and designation
of land as public open space and/or transfer
management to Council, for example:
• Land along Edgars Creek, Coburg North
and Outlook Drive, Glenroy
• Land along the Upfield and Craigieburn
Railway lines
• Shared trails
• Utility land in Gervase Street, Glenroy
• Seek to consolidate and share building
infrastructure on open space, using
other Council land to develop community
facilities in preference to open space
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Ensure organised public use of open space
is managed and does not compromise
environmental quality
• Develop guidelines for community
performance, festivals and large events
in public open space. This should include
management of specific sites, with times,
permits, fee structure / bonds etc, and with
all funds generated from its uses being
returned to open space to reinstate affected
open space
• Develop a policy on use of open space by
commercial entities for activities such as
markets, personal training, dog training
and filming
• Investigate the feasibility of introducing
park rangers to manage conflicts of use
and enforce local laws including: dog
management; encroachments; trail bike
use; illegal dumping; and unintended use
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
Goal 5: Strategy 3
Goal 5: Strategy 5
Ensure the effective hand over and resourcing
of new public open space transferred during
land development
Work with adjacent landowners and land
management agencies to resolve occupancy,
encroachment and manage shared use of
open space
• Develop a hand over procedure for open
space / streetscapes being transferred
from private landowners to Council.
Ensure additional funding is provided
with the handover of new open space
sites to undertake appropriate ongoing
maintenance
• Improve procedures for coordination
between Council staff responsible for
the taking over of open space from new
development, to ensure that planting and
works are designed and undertaken in a
manner that is consistent
with the desired function and setting type
of the space and so it can be maintained
cost effectively
• Ensure that open space taken over by
Council includes a follow-up maintenance
period of 12 months to ensure appropriate
establishment of vegetation, and
maintenance of infrastructure
Goal 5: Strategy 4
Ensure water resources are managed
sustainably on public open space
• In line with Council’s Drought Response
Plan, improve water efficiency and
encourage more sustainable planting
and practices (with particular focus on
key public open spaces, sports fields
and heritage landscapes)
• Develop a policy on appropriate use
of water on open space considering
environmental and social needs for
keeping active / passive spaces green, and
sustainable landscape values
• Develop stronger relationships with schools
regarding out of hours public access to
grounds, and to resolve perceived liability /
duty of care, and resourcing issues
• Review the process for developing
memoranda of understanding for active and
passive activities with schools regarding
out of hours public access to grounds,
liability / duty of care and what Council can
contribute. Develop a policy on how and
when memoranda of understanding should
be used for open space
• Pursue the development of shared use
agreements with Glenroy West Primary
School and Glenroy College
• Redevelop and resecure the KODE School
site as a shared use open space
• Identify all illegal encroachments onto
public open space, and work with all
authorities involved to address each
through negotiation, reinstatement of
boundaries and if necessary prosecution,
or formalise acceptable occupancies
through lease arrangements
• Resolve ownership, public access and lease
arrangements with State agencies for open
space along waterways, service easements
and rail reserves, in order to consolidate
and enhance the open space network
• Develop pedestrian/cycle link between
Moonee Ponds Creek trail and Karin
Court, Glenroy
• Implement the principles of water sensitive
urban design in planning, design and open
space management
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79
Goal 6
Enhancing participation
and use of open space
A large and varied open space network
will result in higher recreation use, and
participation in leisure activities.
Open space should provide for a wide
cross-section of the community, and
encourage use across all age groups.
Spaces should not for instance be provided
solely for one age group (such as for a
small play equipment area), but should
accommodate facilities for a range of age
groups, and encourage increased social
and recreational interaction.
The value of increasing the number of older
adults, children, and young people using
open space, warrants further planning and
assessment of the design of open space.
Similarly Moreland’s culturally diverse
population will require a range of amenities
and infrastructure that respond to the needs
of different groups, and facilitate increased
rates of participation.
There is a need for a good balance of spaces
to provide social and physical activity; settings
that focus on quiet contemplative pastimes
in areas of high environmental quality as
well as those which are highly developed
and encourage a wide range of sports and
recreation activities; that are accessible and
offer a high degree of support facilities.
Making people feel connected and involved
in the protection, development and use of
open space will provide ongoing community
participation and environmental benefits.
Council should consider a range of
promotional and marketing methods for
raising awareness of the mental and physical
health benefits of the use of open space.
This may be achieved through a range
of means, including ensuring signage is
accurate, actively involving the community
in initiatives such as planting days, and
disseminating information through a range
of media.
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Goal 6: Objectives
• Provide for a greater range of users in
open space planning and design
• Encourage greater community involvement
in open space development
• Market open space and the facilities,
and environmental elements it offers
• Develop a greater public knowledge of
the benefits of open space and physical
and social opportunities it provides
Goal 6: Strategy 1
Enhance the range of age groups catered
for in open space
• Identify open spaces that could be used for
a broader range of different activities and
age groups
• In line with recommendations of Council’s
oxYgen Project, continue to consult with
teenagers and young adults about the types
of outdoor recreation settings and facilities
they prefer, and pursue opportunities to
create these
• Enlarge the recurrent capital expenditure
program upgrading / renewal of play
spaces / facilities to meet safety standards
and enhance accessibility to all age groups
• Provide shade, seating, and ensure ease
of movement through and around open
spaces, where possible
• Designate playgrounds/parks throughout
the municipality for additional shade
structures and implement
• Plan, design and construct skate park
facilities / youth spaces in Brunswick
Central Parklands, and a site in Glenroy,
and complete CB Smith skate facility
• Monitor exercise equipment in parks and
increase provision of both static and moving
exercise equipment in designated parks
• Encourage residents to visit and use
different parks and reserves through
regular and one-off activities and events
in public open space (as part of Council
recreation, school holiday and other
community development programs)
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
Goal 6: Strategy 2
Goal 6: Strategy 4
Increase capacity for the community to
be involved in enhancing biodiversity in
open space
Reinforce “Active Moreland” messages in
design, development, and marketing
• Review focus and intent of Community
Planting Days to increase the benefits of
the program, and include appropriate site
preparation and follow-up maintenance,
in line with Council’s yearly Community
planting program
• Continue to investigate barriers that
different target groups perceive to using
open space, and seek to overcome these
through education, programming and
marketing activities, and the design and
management of open space
• Develop and implement a support
program for ‘Friends of’ groups
Goal 6: Strategy 5
• Update and reprint ‘Gardening with
Indigenous Plants in Moreland’, and
include sections on sustainable gardening
Effectively disseminate information about
the benefits of, and availability of, public
open space
Goal 6: Strategy 3
• Provide regular up to date information
about parks and open space to residents,
and what they can do there
Review signage in public open space
• Review the design of all open space
signage, including regulatory logos
• Further control the erection of permanent
and temporary advertising signs in public
open space
• Develop a park interpretive signage suite
for environmental, cultural heritage,
directional and educational purposes
• Develop a number of informational
products in a variety of media to promote
use, value and protection of open space and
ways to be involved
• Develop a community information program
to promote broader understanding and
appreciation of the value of Moreland’s
local environment
• Promote opportunities for residents to have
their say about open space issues and be
involved in open space developments
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81
oal 7
G
Development of a
network of shared trails
Trails are likely to provide for a greater
proportion of the population than any other
outdoor recreation facility.
The benefits of encouraging a healthy lifestyle
through cycling, walking, running and other
trail-based activity are well documented.
In addition to improving health and general
wellbeing, off road trails assist people to move
around the neighbourhood, engage with the
community, feel physically motivated, and
promote environmental sustainability.
The built nature of Moreland’s urban
environment makes it crucial to secure and
develop areas of open space that encourage
movement through, and beyond, the
municipality. Cyclists, for instance, can often
feel intimidated using the road network.
Off road trails provide for a wide range of
groups, and an ideal environment for safe,
relaxing physical activity.
Shared trails can be designed to take a
number of forms, dependent on the local
environment, to offer diversity for users.
Trails that accommodate the needs of older
adults and people with a disability should
also be considered. Council trail networks
should include:
Corridor trails, through linear open space
that also connects with lower order roads
and connects families with schools and other
community and leisure facilities and activity
centres. These can provide connections
with adjacent residential areas, and can
be accommodated on the perimeter of
drainage ways
Regional links that connect to trails in adjacent
municipalities and beyond into Parks Victoria’s
Metropolitan Trail Network
Shared trail access can often be accommodated
through non-residential land uses that assist
employees gain recreational opportunities and
commute to work.
Council has identified opportunities in it
Bike Strategy (2011) through a range of land
uses such as commercial, industrial, and
residential areas that not only encourage off
road access through the municipality, but also
to provide variety of experiences for the user.
Whilst there are some excellent trails along
creek corridors there are few trails that run
east west. Council has recently developed an
off-road trail along the verge in O’Hea Street in
Coburg, which provides right of way to cyclists
at road crossings. Further opportunities
should be investigated to develop off road
trails east west to connect with the creek
corridors as well as through and around
large open spaces.
• Circuits that offer exercise routes and trails
that link key sites and points of interest.
These can offer a good setting for regular
walking, running, cycling and dog walking
• Park perimeter paths around larger open
space, such as sports parks and social /
family recreation open space
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
In addition to improving
health and general
wellbeing, off road
trails assist people
to move around the
neighbourhood, engage
with the community,
feel physically
motivated, and
promote environmental
sustainability.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
83
Trails are likely to
provide for a greater
proportion of the
population than
any other outdoor
recreation facility.
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
Goal 7: Objectives
Goal 7: Strategy 3
• Develop a network of shared trails to
include: perimeter shared paths around
large parks; trail circuits throughout
each suburb connecting community
facilities and parks; and access along key
waterways and to regional trails
Utilise Moreland’s creek and open space
corridors as shared trail routes
• Create greater opportunity for residents
to use shared trails in Moreland
• Provide safe and convenient access
between open spaces, with connections
to residential areas, civic institutions,
schools, activity centres and businesses
Goal 7: Strategy 1
Create shared path perimeter circuits around
major district and regional open space
• Create at least one shared trail circuit
within each suburb
• Develop and / or enhance pedestrian links
and circuits between and through parks
(where appropriate), to encourage walking
and cycling for exercise
• Formalise perimeter trails around the
following open spaces:
−− Parker Reserve (Fawkner)
• Maintain existing informal path networks
along the creeks as an informal
recreational experience
• Address gaps in access to main shared trails
on the Merri and Moonee Ponds Creeks
• Implement recommendations from the
Merri Creek Shared Trail Review
• Address gaps in pedestrian access along
the eastern side of Moonee Ponds Creek
• Investigate further means of improving the
Upfield Railway Line shared path as a key
trail for pedestrian and bicycle movement
through the centre of the municipality
• Review the location of shared trail amenities on
Merri Creek and Moonee Ponds Creek trails
• Seek to maintain a balance between the
protection of riparian habitat and public
access along the creek corridors, and vary
the nature of trail access in accordance
with environmental significance
• Investigate land ownership, and work with
owners to establish a shared trail along the
Merlynston Creek alignment, from John
Street Glenroy to Merri Creek, Coburg North
• Identify additional areas where creeks can
be traversed by shared trails
−− Cole Reserve (Pascoe Vale)
−− Oak Park (Oak Park)
−− Northern Golf Course (Glenroy)
through negotiation
Goal 7: Strategy 2
Seek to create shared trails through
residential, commercial and industrial zones
• Identify opportunities and implement
(where possible) to create shared trails
for walking, dog walking, cycling, and
skating in new developments and in
redevelopment areas, particularly in
activity centres, through the re-design of
existing streetscapes, and parks (where
appropriate) and public land
• Create links to open space and trails from
activity centres
Goal 7: Strategy 4
Sign and promote trail networks
• Publish a guide to Moreland’s shared trails,
‘greenways’ and interesting routes for
walking and cycling around the City
• Enhance directional and informational
signage along trails in the municipality, and
provide directional signage to open space
and trails from activity centres
• Work with neighbouring local authorities
to provide consistent signage and trail
information, particularly along creek corridors
• Include distance markers and expected
time information on major trail routes
• Develop east / west routes to connect the
Upfield Rail shared path, and identified habitat
corridors to the trails along the Merri and
Moonee Ponds Creeks, and other waterways
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 8. Key Goals and objectives
85
9. Implementation
of the Strategy
86
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 9. Implementation of the Strategy
Funding
Existing funding of open space
Council will need to continue to allocate and
increase as appropriate, resources for open
space management and improvements to
Moreland’s open space system.
All capital projects delivered as a result of the
previous Open Space Strategy (2004-2009)
have been directly funded via Councils Public
Reserve and Resort Fund (PRRF) and external
State and Federal Government funding.
An adequate recurrent budget for
maintenance, remediation and management
of the City’s open spaces will ensure that the
sites, constructed assets, and landscapes are
in a safe, useable and attractive state and the
vegetation is healthy. It will also ensure that
open space is managed sustainably in a way
that protects and enhances its ecology.
With some increases in the area of open
space and the potential impacts of increasing
demand for use and quality experience
juxtaposed with changes in climate and other
environmental factors, such as drought,
the open space budget needs to be revised
accordingly.
An asset management system, as is being
currently developed, will address depreciation
of the assets and improve the state of open
space facilities.
A Public Open Space Contribution was
introduced to Clause 52.01 of the Moreland
Planning Scheme in 2010. It is this schedule of
rates and subsequent financial contributions
from developers that will define the future
annual income and capacity of the PRRF.
A significant body of work has been
undertaken by the Open Space Design and
Development Unit, on the projected costs of
open space capital projects (for the life of the
Open Space Strategy) as a result of the
Open Space Contributions Plan (OSCP).
A similar cost exercise has been undertaken
to incorporate the open space development
projects outlined within the Brunswick,
Coburg and Glenroy Structure Plans. These
combined project cost estimations determine
the open space contribution percentage for
each suburb within the City.
These estimated capital project costs are an
important addendum to the Moreland Open
Space Strategy.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 9. Implementation of the Strategy
87
The cost of implementing the new
Open Space Strategy
It is envisaged the bulk of capital projects will
continue to be funded via the PRRF however,
the need to also fund land acquisition for new
public open space will reduce the annual open
space development capital project capacity
of the reserve fund periodically, unless
supplemented through the rate base.
The level of reserve funds and rate funds
available for open space will also determine
the length of time required to implement
significant open space capital works projects.
In order to adequately maintain and provide
a quality open space network with increasing
pressures from use and climate issues,
an increase in the recurrent open space
maintenance budget is required. The cost of
maintaining and managing new public open
space within activity centres and parks and
recreation reserve renewal projects must
also be factored into the annual operational
base budgets.
Strategic priorities
Over the next ten (10) years, the following
strategic priorities for the management and
improvement of Moreland’s open space
system are to:
• Provide quality, accessible open space
within safe walking distance of all residents
• Continue resourcing the restoration of the
waterways as regional linear open space
• Review rate base contribution to open
space capital works projects and ongoing
maintenance to ensure that it meets any
funding gap
• Diversify recreation and open space
opportunities, especially for children,
youth and elderly
• Develop an annually resourced Parks
Improvement Program
• Consolidate spaces along open space
corridors, particularly State-owned
properties
• Develop a biodiversity strategy to protect
and restore habitat for native flora and fauna
• Provide more comprehensive community
information about the diversity of
Moreland’s open space system
• Develop and utilise an open space database
linked to the GIS to improve management of
open space assets and resources
• Develop a Recreation Strategy to provide
overarching guidance on the future
provision of recreation in Moreland
• Develop further strategies to assist in
ameliorating the affects of climate change
• Develop a sustainable water strategy for
open space including priorities for social
and environmental aspects of open space
• Develop a strategy to diversify park types
to address community opportunities and
environmental qualities
• Allocate adequate resources for
maintenance and refurbishment of existing
and additional open space
Monitoring, reporting
and review
• Assess and prioritise open space needs
in Moreland’s designated Principal, Major,
Neighbourhood and Local Activity Centres,
particularly for higher density residential
development
Community satisfaction with Moreland’s
parks and reserves will continue to be
regularly monitored as part of Council’s
Customer Satisfaction Surveys.
• Review and update Schedule 52.01 of
Moreland’s Planning Scheme to reflect
future open space improvements in
the Glenroy and Brunswick activity
centre areas and to ensure that the
rate sufficiently identifies and costs
future projects
88
Progress in implementation of this Strategy
should be monitored and reported annually to
Council, to the Sustainable Moreland Advisory
Group and to the community via Council’s
Annual Report.
The Implementation Plan (page 74) in this
Strategy should be reviewed every three
years to ensure they reflect any social,
environmental changes. A full review of the
Strategy should be undertaken after 10 years.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 9. Implementation of the Strategy
Community satisfaction
with Moreland’s parks
and reserves will
continue to be regularly
monitored as part of
Council’s Customer
Satisfaction Surveys.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 9. Implementation of the Strategy
89
10. Implementation Plan
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
Implementation Plan
Goal Objective
Goal 1: Providing parks close to home
Incrementally
acquire and
develop open
spaces (where
possible) to
increase the
proximity of high
quality parkland
to residential
dwellings
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Strategy
Action
Pursue
opportunities
to acquire
local open
space in areas
undersupplied
by open
space, where
densities
and building
heights are
increasing,
or where
dwellings
occur in
mixed-use
areas and
activity
centres
Long
Improve provision and access to functional
open space, within designated principal,
major neighbourhood and local activity
centres, by providing high quality open space
within 300m safe walking distance of the
activity centre
Timeframe By Whom?
Place Design
& Strategy
Seek opportunities through urban
development to acquire open space in areas
underserved, as a priority for social / family
recreation parks, shared trails, and sports
Ongoing
Property
Services
Prepare a land acquisition policy to
guide Council’s strategic acquisition of
land for new open space and open space
improvements, including development
contributions under the Subdivision Act
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Investigate the acquisition of the following
sites / areas to address the under provision of
open space in the neighbourhood/suburb:
Long
Property
Services
• Glenroy Primary School land
• Land in Glenroy abutting Belair
Avenue Park
• Land in Pascoe Vale South
• Land in Pascoe Vale in the vicinity of
Windsor Street and Derby Street, (or
develop a shared use agreement with
Pascoe Vale North Primary School)
• Land in Brunswick East
• Land in Coburg around O’Hea Street
• Land fronting 33 Stewart Street, Brunswick
• Lobby VicTrack to transfer land to
Council as open space between Upfield
train line and Cameron Street running
from Moreland Road along the length of
Cameron Street
• Lobby VicTrack to transfer land between
Albert Street running along the Upfield bike
path and supermarket car park, to Council
as open space
• Lobby Jemena Power to transfer land at
Gervase Street, Glenroy to Council
• Purchase land and develop a small local
park in the vicinity of the corner of Reynard
and Portland Streets, Coburg
• Purchase land and develop a small local
park in the vicinity of Shirley Street Fawkner
• Land in West Glenroy
• Land in East Glenroy
• Land in Hadfield
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
91
Implementation Plan
Goal Objective
Strategy
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Investigate the sites designated for
residential redevelopment in rezoned
industrial areas or increasing employment
in industrial areas and identify the need for
open space to be provided in conjunction
with redevelopment
Medium
Strategic
Planning
Council will advocate to the State
Government to implement the
recommendations of the VEAC report that
when surplus public utility land has been
identified as having environmental or social
value, that the Council be given the first
option on the land
Ongoing
Council
Incorporate key actions requiring advocacy
into Corporate Advocacy Program
Ongoing
Council
Medium
Place Design
& Strategy
Investigate the • Car park in Stewart Street, Brunswick
conversion of
• Car park in Breese Street, Brunswick
the following
• Car park in Edwards Street, Brunswick
Council owned
sites to
open space
Develop and adopt a standard approach to
Short
determining what open space is required, for
what, where, and how it should be provided
Open Space
Design &
Development
Ensure the function and setting type of
spaces are determined in the structure
planning process
Ongoing
Place Design
& Strategy
Implement the open space
recommendations of the Brunswick,
Glenroy, and Coburg 2020 Structure Plans
Medium
Place Design
& Strategy
Develop implementation plans for open
space to improve provision and access to
local open space, including civic places,
within designated principal, major,
neighbourhood and local activity centres
Short
Place Design
& Strategy
Ensure every
household has safe
and convenient
access to parkland
for passive
recreation, quiet
contemplation,
sport and access
to nature
Prepare a
policy to
guide the
assessment
and disposal
of any open
space sites
Adopt the Melbourne 2030 Parkland Code
when assessing any surplus open space
Ongoing
Property
Services
Ensure the proceeds of sale of any open
space is used to fund priority improvements
and the purchase of other open space in
areas where there is a demonstrated need
Ongoing
Property
Services
Provide and
protect quality
open space that
provides a range
of experiences
and accessible
recreation
opportunities,
natural and cultural
heritage features,
and high quality
park facilities and
landscape settings
Protect the
value and
amenity
of existing
and new
open space
and street
landscapes
Ensure that any new developments, other
structures and car parks are setback and
provide no unreasonable overshadowing
of open space or street landscapes or
reduction in public access, maximise
interaction and passive surveillance
opportunities, and are responsive to the
existing site context
Ongoing
Strategic
Planning
Goal 1 (continued)
Seek to ensure
structure plan
and strategic
redevelopment
sites provide
adequate
open space
where building
heights and
densities
will increase
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
Implementation Plan
Goal 1 (continued)
Goal Objective
Strategy
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Continue to encourage appropriate
development adjacent to open space that
enhances public surveillance, incidental
lighting, encourages use and enhances a
sense of security for users in the space
Ongoing
Urban
Planning
Prepare guidelines and protocols to ensure
high quality and functional open space and
street landscape outcomes are achieved in
public parks and streetscapes established
as part of private development or Council
projects, and that these complement
existing provision
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop and implement a reference
document to provide guidance for
planning decisions regarding appropriate
development, particularly for urban
consolidation projects, that may impact on
street landscapes and / or open space
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Implement Moreland’s Lighting Strategy
focusing on entrances, buildings and paths
where they provide a thoroughfare through
parks, on shared trails at intersecting paths
(minimal safety lighting to protect habitat
values), for sport (as appropriate) and
lighting will be of best practice
environmental efficiency
Ongoing
ESD
Develop a Memorials and Monuments Policy
for open space and the public realm
Short
Governance,
Open Space
Design &
Development
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Implementation Plan
Goal Objective
Goal 2: Having a mix of open space types and experiences
To maintain and
develop a network
of open spaces
that have a broad
range of functions
and landscape
settings reflecting
benefits sought
by a diverse
population
Enhance the
diversity of
opportunities
and experiences
in open space
by classifying
their function
and landscape
setting consciously
modifying these
to create the
best mix
Enhance
open space
opportunities
to respond
to changing
residential
settlement types
94
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Strategy
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Enhance the
diversity of
experiences in
open space by
determining
preferred
functions and
landscape
settings of all
spaces
Analyse the distribution of spaces by
function and landscape setting to determine
omissions, duplications and opportunities
for varying experiences
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Undertake a comprehensive assessment
Medium
of the existing and potential public value of
poor quality, undeveloped spaces to identify
opportunities to diversify open space uses,
experiences and landscape settings in those,
or future development or divestment actions
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop park management plans for each
open space function type, which includes core
service levels for sports reserves, social /
family recreation reserves, and shared trails
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Selectively develop outdoor recreation
facilities and enhance environmental
amenity of open space, to create a greater
diversity of experiences
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Endorse the range of open space functions
and corresponding core service levels to
ensure open space is fit for purpose, and
use as a planning tool to aid planning, site
selection and design and provide better
guidance to developers
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Increase the recurrent capital expenditure
program for playgrounds, including
upgrades and new facilities to meet current
safety standards, enhance accessibility and
provide diversity in play opportunities
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Ensure that public open space is protected,
and when existing public buildings / facilities
on open space are to be removed, consider
conversion of these areas back to parkland
Ongoing
Property
Services
Develop an assessment tool to determine
suitable use of Council land including
designated public open space for the use of
community gardens
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Work with Council’s Social Policy Unit to
develop a Council policy on support and
resourcing community garden development
in Moreland
Short
Social Policy
If, in the view of the Manager Urban Safety,
significant conflict exists in a particular
off-leash reserve, then a review of that
reserve will take place and potential zoning
of the space will be investigated
Ongoing
Urban Safety
Redesign Gilpin Park for social / family
recreation (including dog walking) to
enhance recreational use and landscape
amenity and replace ageing infrastructure
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Rejuvenate Brunswick Park as a social /
family recreation open space, including
plantings barbeque, and shelter
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Provide a
greater range
of function
types and
landscape
settings within
Moreland’s
open space
Seek to
provide
social / family
recreation
open space
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
Implementation Plan
Goal 2 (continued)
Goal Objective
Strategy
Improve the
quality of
existing open
space
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Review the Moomba Park Concept Plan
and continue to develop Moomba Park in
Fawkner, to provide a range of recreation
opportunities of district park standard to
meet the interests of sporting and other
user groups, and improve the social/family
recreation opportunities including access in
and around the site
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop a Recreation Plan for CB Smith
Reserve in Fawkner, to provide a mix and
range of recreational opportunities to be
accommodated in the whole precinct.
Include the soccer precinct and youth space,
and work towards improving open space for
social/family recreation, building interfaces,
playground provision and pedestrian and
traffic movement within the precinct
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Short
Upgrade Sewell Reserve, Glenroy as a
sportsfield with social / family recreation space
and general improvements to the amenity
around the periphery of the open space
Open Space
Design &
Development
Redevelop open space in Tullamarine
precinct as social / family recreation space
and provide pedestrian and cycle links
to Gowanbrae
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Prepare and implement redevelopment
plans for City Oval and Bridges Reserve, to
include a review of facilities required, active
recreation use, increased passive recreation
opportunities, and planting
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Plan for the redevelopment for active
and passive recreation at Bush Reserve
including incorporating the council-owned
house block to improve access into the park
and provision of the passive space to the
south of the block
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop a landscape redevelopment plan for Short
Merlynston Creek easement, Boundary Road
to Hosken Reserve, Coburg North, including
pathways, habitat provision, and passive
recreation opportunities
Open Space
Design &
Development
Review and implement the Gowanbrae
Landscape Master plan to provide for active
and passive recreation opportunities and
provide links to Glenroy, Oak Park and to
Hume City Council
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop an active recreation plan for the
Central Brunswick Parklands, to incorporate
netball practice courts and expansion of
tennis courts within Raeburn Reserve, and
determine the best location for youth space /
skate park within the Clifton / Gilpin precinct
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Ensure appropriate access to and use of
sports parks
Ongoing
Recreation
Enhance the accessibility of the Coburg City
Oval, from Sydney Road and through the site
and to include seating, picnic facilities and
drinking fountains
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
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Implementation Plan
Strategy
Goal 3: Making Places for nature
Goal 2 (continued)
Goal Objective
96
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Undertake and implement Fleming Park
Development Plan to improve the open
space, maintaining active recreation
opportunities and review use of council
buildings on site
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Improve the quality of playing fields at
Clifton Park, and to include refurbishment
of existing landscape, improved seating and
water fountains
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Redevelop Jackson Reserve including
upgrading H Stephens Athletic Complex
Short
Recreation
Evaluate Richards Reserve and prepare
an open space redevelopment plan to
attract residents for active recreation,
and enhance amenity
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Short
Prepare and implement a five-year
Sportsfield Infrastructure Capital Works Plan
to guide the annual sportsfield upgrade ad
asset renewal program throughout the City
Seek to provide
better buffers
between urban
development and
waterways
Undertake
significant
revegetation
works
along creek
corridors
throughout
the
municipality
Open Space
Design &
Development
Review and implement the existing,
documented heritage development plans for
Methven, Fleming and Warr Parks, including
implementing the recommendations of the
2009 Connellan report
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Improve the quality of experience in Mott
Reserve, Glenroy to attract residents for
social / family recreation
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop district level parks to service the
Glenroy, Gowanbrae and Pascoe Vale areas
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop a strategic works program for
waterway revegetation for Merlynston and
Westbreen Creeks, in conjunction with the
Creek Management Bodies, Friends Groups
and Melbourne Water
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Implement the Merri Creek Environs
Strategy (2010) as appropriate
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Implement the Moonee Ponds Creek
Strategic Plan (2011) as appropriate
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
Implementation Plan
Goal Objective
Goal 3 (continued)
Enhance the
sustainability and
management of
water corridors
Protect and
enhance the
ecological integrity
and sustainability
of Moreland's
natural resources,
particularly the
creek corridors
and remaining
areas of remnant
vegetation
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Strategy
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Enhance
access to
select areas
of waterway
corridors
to provide
contiguous
public access
where
possible,
whilst
protecting
riparian
habitat
Develop a management plan for Westbreen
Creek, Pascoe Vale in line with the
Westbreen Creek Parklands Master Plan
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Prepare a conservation and development
plan for Edgars Creek identifying
appropriate recreational opportunities along
its reaches and including the reclamation
and revitalisation of natural areas along
Edgars Creek. Investigate and provide
opportunities to improve access for use and
maintenance of the area, particularly on the
eastern bank behind the industrial estate
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Protect and
enhance
remnant
vegetation
and habitats
in Moreland
As opportunities arise, acquire land to create Long
a vegetated buffer of a minimum 30 metres
wide from the creek edge on each side of the
creek corridor along Merri Creek, Moonee
Ponds Creek, and Edgars Creek (where
possible). A minimum of 50 metres wide
from the creek edge on each side should be
sought to create a public open space corridor
Strategic
Planning
Implement priority actions from the ‘Moreland Ongoing
Indigenous Vegetation Assessment 2011’
Open Space
Design &
Development
Continue an active protection, management
and enhancement program for Moreland’s
remnant vegetation in the following sites:
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Review and update the management plan for
the Jukes Road Grassland (Bababi Djininang)
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Prepare and implement a Biodiversity
Strategy to identify priority measures for the
protection, restoration and enhancement of
native plant and animal communities
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Review and assess usage and method of
application of herbicides, fertiliser and
other chemicals in open space with a view to
minimizing impacts on non-target species
and stormwater quality
Ongoing
Open Space
Maintenance
• Jukes Road Grassland
(Bababi Djininang), Fawkner
• Outlook Drive, Glenroy
• Union Street Escarpment, Brunswick West
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Implementation Plan
Goal 4: A greener more liveable Moreland
Goal 3 (continued)
Goal Objective
98
Strategy
Work with
Seek to protect
neighbouring
and improve the
natural habitat and Councils
and other
ecological values
authorities
of waterways and
to enhance
natural areas
the value
complementing
and health of
the demand
waterways
for provision
of a diversity
of recreational
settings and
opportunities
along these
corridors
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Participate in the planning and development
of the ‘chain of parks’ along Merri Creek, as
proposed in Linking People and Spaces (Parks
Victoria 2002), and the proposed major park
north of the Ring Road.
Long
Open Space
Design &
Development
Advocate to Melbourne Water to undertake
bed and bank habitat restoration works
along the waterways, including the removal
and / or modification of concrete lining.
Undertake complementary works on
adjoining Council land where appropriate
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Support, participate in and resource
coordination committees / networks,
such as Merri Creek and Moonee Ponds
Creek Management Committees, to
undertake coordinated management
of the creek corridors
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Construct a wetland for storm water
management and fauna and flora habitat
as per investigation undertaken on
Merri Creek (2009)
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop and implement fire management
plan with appropriate authorities,
particularly for the creek corridors
Short
Urban Safety
Encourage the development of a diversity
of landscape settings for recreation along
the creek
Protect, restore,
and expand
interconnected
open space
corridors as
habitat corridors
Expand open
space and
streetscape
corridors
as habitat
corridors
Identify east / west habitat corridors and
nominate appropriate streetscape species
to provide habitat links between the existing
creek and railway corridors
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Review the Upfield Line Habitat Landscape
Plan (1998) to develop in partnership with
the community the Upfield shared trail as
a habitat corridor
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Increase the
tree canopy in
Moreland, and the
biodiversity and
environmental
quality of the
public domain
Increase
tree canopy
and improve
tree health
to create an
urban forest
Monitor and develop a program to increase
the extent of tree canopy in Moreland
Short
Open Space
Maintenance
Establish a Park Tree Management Program
to conserve, enhance, manage and sustain
the health and longevity of trees in parks
and reserves. This should include an audit
and assessment of works required, a works
schedule and staged implementation
Short
Open Space
Maintenance
Review, update and continue to implement
Council’s Street Landscape Strategy to
ensure landscapes are linked throughout
the municipality for amenity and
environmental needs
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Nominate trial areas for open space
horticultural improvements that assist in
ameliorating intense weather conditions
such as plantings for wind breaks, cooling,
and disseminating high water levels
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
Implementation Plan
Goal 5: Making the most of open space through effective management
Goal 4 (continued)
Goal Objective
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Strategy
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Enhance the sense
of civic pride
and wellbeing
of residents
by enhancing
landscape quality
and views of
green space
Augment
streetscape
vegetation
and enhance
environmental
quality
in urban
development
to supplement
public green
space
Where land development and increased
residential density cannot deliver additional
public or private green space, seek to
provide restorative qualities, access to
nature and greater residential amenity
through planning controls and works that:
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Protect public
open space as
an essential
land use through
appropriate
planning controls
Ensure
appropriate
zoning and
designation
of public open
space
Review the zoning of all public open space
owned by Council and ensure that it is
appropriately zoned in the Moreland
Planning Scheme
Short
Strategic
Planning
Review the Environmental Significant
Overlay (ESO) for Moonee Ponds and
Merri Creeks to ensure effective protection
and operation of the ESO
Medium
Strategic
Planning
Negotiate with owners of other authorities
that Council maintains as public open
space, to ensure appropriate zoning and
designation of land as public open space
and/or to transfer management to Council
for example:
Medium
Strategic
Planning
Seek to consolidate and share building
infrastructure on open space, using other
Council land to develop community facilities
in preference to using open space
Ongoing
Property
Services
Ensure heritage parks are identified and
protected by a Heritage Overlay, including:
Short
Strategic
Planning
• Increase tree canopy
• Enhance streetscapes and landscape
qualities within private and public
infrastructure developments
• Protect views to existing open space
• Establish minimum provisions of private
open space and permeable spaces for
residential areas above the standards
prescribed in ResCode and other higher
density guidelines
• Land along Edgars Creek, Coburg North
and Outlook Drive, Glenroy
• Land along the Upfield and Craigieburn
Railway lines
• Shared trails
• Utility land in Gervase Street, Glenroy
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Bridges Reserve, Coburg
Brunswick Park, Brunswick
Fleming Park, Brunswick
Jacobs Reserve, Brunswick
Lake Reserve, Coburg
Methven Park, Brunswick
Shore Reserve, Coburg
Temple Park, Brunswick
Warr Park, Brunswick
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
99
Implementation Plan
Goal Objective
Increase the
management
of open space
to minimise
conflicts in use
Goal 5 (continued)
100
Strategy
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Ensure
organised
public use of
open space
is managed
and does not
compromise
environmental
quality
Develop guidelines for community
performance, festivals and large events
in public open space. This should include
management of specific sites, with times,
permits, fee structure / bonds etc, and with
all funds generated from its uses being
returned to open space to reinstate affected
open space
Short
Recreation
/ Arts &
Culture
Develop a policy on use of open space by
commercial entities for activities such as
markets, personal training, dog training
and filming
Short
Recreation
Investigate the feasibility of introducing
park rangers to manage conflicts of use
and enforce local laws including: dog
management; encroachments; trail bike
use; illegal dumping; and unintended use
Short
Urban Safety
Develop a hand over procedure for open
space / streetscapes being transferred
from private landowners to Council.
Ensure additional funding is provided with
the handover of open space sites to
undertake appropriate ongoing maintenance
Short
Open Space
Maintenance
Improve procedures for coordination
between Council staff responsible for
the taking over of open space from new
development, to ensure that planting and
works are designed and undertaken in a
manner that is consistent with the desired
function and setting type of the space and
so it can be maintained cost effectively
Short
Open Space
Maintenance
Ensure that open space taken over by
Council includes a follow-up maintenance
period of 12 months to ensure appropriate
establishment of vegetation, and
maintenance of infrastructure
Ongoing
Open Space
Maintenance
In line with Council’s Drought Response Plan, Ongoing
improve water efficiency and encourage
more sustainable planting and practices (with
particular focus on key public open spaces,
sportsfields and heritage landscapes)
Open Space
Maintenance
Ensure the
effective hand
over and
resourcing
of public
open space
transferred
during land
development
Introduce more
cost-effective,
ecologically
sustainable,
and community
responsive
measures to
managing public
open space
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Ensure water
resources
are managed
sustainably on
public open
space
Develop a policy on appropriate use of water
on open space considering environmental
and social needs for keeping active /
passive spaces green, and sustaining
landscape values
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Implement the principles of water sensitive
urban design in planning, design and open
space management
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
/ OS
Maintenance
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
Implementation Plan
Goal 5 (continued)
Goal Objective
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Strategy
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Work with
adjacent
landowners
and land
management
agencies
to resolve
occupancy,
encroachment
and manage
shared use of
open space
Develop stronger relationships with schools
regarding out of hours public access to
grounds, and to resolve perceived liability /
duty of care, and resourcing issues
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Review the process for developing
memoranda of understanding for active and
passive activities with schools regarding
out of hours public access to grounds,
liability/duty of care and what Council can
contribute. Develop a policy on how and
when memoranda of understanding should
be used for open space
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Pursue the development of shared use
agreements with Glenroy West Primary
School, Glenroy College
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Redevelop and resecure the KODE School
site as a shared use open space
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Identify all illegal encroachments onto public Medium
open space, and address each through
negotiation, reinstatement of boundaries
and if necessary prosecution, or formalise
acceptable occupancies through lease
arrangements
Urban Safety
Resolve ownership, public access and lease Medium
arrangements with State agencies for open
space along waterways, service easements
and rail reserves, in order to consolidate and
enhance the open space network
Property
Services
Develop pedestrian/cycle link between
Moonee Ponds Creek trail and Karin
Court, Glenroy
Transport
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
Medium
101
Implementation Plan
Goal Objective
Goal 6: Enhancing participation and use of open space
Provide for a
greater range
of users in open
space planning
and design
Encourage greater
community
involvement
in open space
development
Strategy
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Enhance
the range of
age groups
catered for in
open space
Identify open spaces that could be used for
a broader range of different activities and
age groups
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
In line with recommendations of Council’s
oxYgen Project, continue to consult with
teenagers and young adults about the types
of outdoor recreation settings and facilities
they prefer, and pursue opportunities to
create these
Ongoing
Youth
Services
Enlarge the recurrent capital expenditure
program upgrading / renewal of
playgrounds/facilities to meet safety
standards and enhance accessibility
opportunities for all ages
Ongoing
Open Space
Maintenance
/ Open Space
Design &
Development
Provide shade, seating, and ensure ease of
movement through and around open spaces,
where possible
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Review Resting Places Strategy
and implement
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Designate playgrounds/parks throughout
the municipality for additional shade
structures and implement
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Plan, design and construct skate park
facilities / youth spaces in Brunswick
Central Parklands, and a site in Glenroy,
and complete CB Smith skate facility
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Monitor exercise equipment in parks and
increase provision of both static and moving
exercise equipment in designated parks
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Encourage residents to visit and use
different parks and reserves through
regular and one-off activities and events
in public open space (as part of Council
recreation, school holiday and other
community development programs)
Ongoing
Youth &
Leisure/Arts
& Culture
Review focus and intent of Community
Planting Days to increase the benefits of
the program, and include appropriate site
preparation and follow-up maintenance,
in line with Council’s yearly Community
planting program
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop and implement a support program
for ‘Friends of’ groups
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Update and reprint ‘Gardening with
Indigenous Plants in Moreland’, and include
sections on sustainable gardening
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Review the design of all open space signage,
including regulatory logos
Long
Open Space
Design &
Development
Further control the erection of permanent
and temporary advertising signs in public
open space
Ongoing
Open Space
Maintenance
Develop a park interpretive signage suite for
environmental, cultural heritage, directional
and educational purposes
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Increase
capacity
for the
community
to be involved
in enhancing
biodiversity in
open space
Review
signage
in public
open space
102
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
Implementation Plan
Goal 7: Development of a network of shared trails
Goal 6 (continued)
Goal Objective
Develop a greater
public knowledge
of the benefits of
open space and
physical and social
opportunities it
provides
Develop a network
of shared trails to
include: perimeter
shared paths
around large
parks; trail circuits
throughout each
suburb connecting
community
facilities and
parks; and
access along key
waterways and to
regional trails
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Strategy
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Reinforce
“Active
Moreland”
messages
in design,
development,
and marketing
Continue to investigate barriers that
different target groups perceive, to using
open space and seek to overcome these
through education, programming and
marketing activities, and the design and
management of open space
Ongoing
Social Policy
Effectively
disseminate
information
about the
benefits
of, and
availability of,
public open
space
Provide regular up to date information about
parks and open space to residents, and what
they can do there
Ongoing
Recreation
Develop a number of informational products
in a variety of media to promote use, value
and protection of open space and ways to
be involved
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Provide community information program
to promote broader understanding and
appreciation of the value of Moreland’s
local environment
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Promote opportunities for residents to have
their say about open space issues and be
involved in open space developments
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Create at least one shared trail circuit
within each suburb
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop and / or enhance pedestrian links
and circuits between and through parks
(where appropriate), to encourage walking
and cycling for exercise
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Formalise perimeter paths around the
following open spaces:
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Identify opportunities to create off road
trails for walking, dog walking, cycling,
and skating in new developments and in
redevelopment areas, particularly in activity
centres, through the re-design of existing
streetscapes, and parks (where appropriate)
and public land
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Create links to open space and trails from
activity centres
Short
Place Design
& Strategy
Create
shared path
perimeter
circuits
around major
district and
regional open
space
•
•
•
•
Create greater
opportunity for
residents to use
shared trails in
Moreland
Seek to create
shared trails
through
residential,
commercial
and industrial
zones
Parker Reserve (Fawkner)
Cole Reserve (Pascoe Vale)
Oak Park (Oak Park)
Northern Golf Course (Glenroy)
through negotiation
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Implementation Plan
Strategy
Action
Timeframe By Whom?
Utilise
Moreland’s
creek and
open space
corridors as
shared trail
routes
Maintain existing informal path
networks along the creek as an informal
recreational experience
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Address gaps in pedestrian and cycle
access to main shared trails on the
Merri and Moonee Ponds Creeks
Short
Open Space
Design &
Development
Implement recommendations from the
Merri Creek Shared Trail Review
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Address gaps in pedestrian access along
the eastern side of Moonee Ponds Creek
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Investigate further means of improving the
Upfield Railway Line shared path as a key
trail for pedestrian and bicycle movement
through the centre of the municipality
Long
Transport
Review the location of shared trail amenities
on Merri Creek and Moonee Ponds
Creek trails
Medium
Open Space
Design &
Development
Seek to maintain a balance between the
protection of riparian habitat and public
access along the creek corridors, and vary
the nature of trail access in accordance
with environmental significance
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Investigate land ownership, and work with
owners to establish a shared trail along the
Merlynston Creek alignment, from John
Street Glenroy to Merri Creek, North Coburg
Long
Property
Services
Identify additional areas where creeks
can be traversed by shared trails
Long
Open Space
Design &
Development
Publish a guide to Moreland’s shared trails,
‘greenways’ and interesting routes for
walking and cycling around the City
Short
Recreation
Enhance directional and informational
signage along trails in the municipality and
provide directional signage to open space
and trails from activity centres
Ongoing
Transport
Work with neighbouring local authorities
to provide consistent signage and trail
information, particularly along creek
corridors. Include distance markers and
expected time information on major
trail routes
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Include distance markers and expected time
information on major trail routes
Ongoing
Open Space
Design &
Development
Develop east / west routes to connect
the Upfield Rail shared path and identified
habitat corridors to the paths along the
Merri and Moonee Ponds Creeks,
and other waterways
Long
Open Space
Design &
Development
/ Transport
Goal 7 (continued)
Goal Objective
Provide safe
and convenient
access between
open spaces, with
connections to
residential areas,
civic institutions
and businesses
104
Short = 1-3, Medium = 3-7, Long = 7-10+
Sign and
promote trail
networks
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 10. Implementation Plan
11. Appendices
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
105
Appendix 1
Planning and policy context
State Government policy
−− Identifying opportunities to improve
provision in areas identified as deficient
Melbourne 2030:
Planning for sustainable growth
−− Developing strategies to maximise
the open space and conservation
potential of neglected or under-used
areas such as some railway land,
cemeteries and schools
Released in 2002, this is the current Victorian
Government’s strategy for metropolitan
Melbourne. The main objective of the strategy
is to continue to protect the liveability of
the established areas and to increasingly
concentrate major change in strategic
redevelopment sites. Coburg is identified as
a principal activity centre, and Glenroy and
Brunswick are Major Activity Centres.
• Policy 5.6 is to “improve the quality and
distribution of local open space and ensure
long-term protection of public open space”.
It notes that local public open space is a
vital component of the urban fabric and
makes places more liveable. Four initiatives
are listed under this policy (as follows), as
well as The Parklands Code. Managers of
open space, including local government,
are to give due consideration to the Code
in the planning and management of
open space
1. Review mechanisms for strategic open
space planning in consultation with open
space management agencies in light of
the Parks Victoria strategy Linking People
and Spaces
2. Apply the open space planning principles
set out in the Parklands Code to guide
decision-making on issues such as open
space protection and management
• Policy 5.7 is to “rectify gaps in the network
of metropolitan open space by creating new
parks and ensure major open space corridors
are protected and enhanced”. The open
space corridors along Moonee Ponds and
Merri Creek are identified as being part of
the regional public open space network.
One of the initiatives under this policy
is to create four continuous open space
links and trails, including the Merri Creek
Parklands within and beyond Moreland,
extending to Craigieburn
Melbourne 2030 – Planning Update –
Melbourne @5 Million
Melbourne @ 5 million is a complementary
policy to the directions of Melbourne 2030
released in 2008 and both documents should
be considered together. It is a refinement of
some of the key directions of Melbourne 2030.
The main principals are: to develop a more
compact city; better manage growth; develop
networks with regional sites; and, develop a
greener city. This is proposed to be achieved
through the linking of transport, job creation
and appropriate land use planning.
3. Establish a planning framework and
guidelines relating to open space and
sporting facilities at local and district level
4. Help local government to improve the
quality and distribution of local open
space by:
−− Researching changing community
attitudes and usage patterns
−− Providing advice on innovative
park design
106
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Implications of Melbourne @5 Million
for Moreland City Council are:
• One of the key employment corridors,
part of which is Bell Street, has been
earmarked as a priority for attention from
the State Government. They propose to
work with the business community and
Local Government to determine areas and
sites with redevelopment opportunities,
produce plans for the corridor that sets out
the desired development outcomes, public
realm improvements required, and any
infrastructure needs, and review and where
necessary propose changes to planning
controls to facilitate the desired outcomes
• It is projected that established suburbs over
the next 20 years will accommodate higher
numbers of households than originally
anticipated in Melbourne 2030. To manage
this growth and preserve liveability the
focus will be on more intense housing
development in and around activity centres,
along tram routes and the orbital bus
routes on the Principal Public Transport
Network, and areas close to train stations
and on large development sites. Moreland
City Council is one of six councils involved
in a Pilot project to help the Sub-region
reach its full potential. This includes
looking at freeing up surplus industrial
land which is located in and around activity
centres, exploring whether more housing
can be accommodated along transport
corridors, and improving public spaces to
help stimulate private investment as well
as improve the liveability of an area
Melbourne 2030 is being review and a new
Metropolitan Strategy is expected to be
adopted within twelve months (2013).
Parklands Code: Urban Open
Space Principles
To sustain the benefits of open space into the
future, and to support the broad strategies
and actions contained in Linking People and
Spaces, the following metropolitan-wide
guidelines are proposed for the planning and
management of open space. These objectives
relate to the network of urban open space
including regional parks, waterways, reserves
that have conservation and cultural value,
coasts, and shared-use trails.
The Government commits to these principles
for urban open space that is controlled by the
Department of Sustainability and Environment
and Parks Victoria located in Melbourne.
Other managers of open space such as local
government will give due consideration to
these principles for their parklands.
Involving the community
Open space belongs to the community.
Individuals and community groups should
therefore be encouraged to take an active
role in decision making for the network’s
future. Open space managers should promote
this participation through open consultation,
especially when major changes to park
management and use are proposed.
Managers should also continue to
support community involvement in
planting, regeneration and conservation
of natural and cultural values.
Transparent planning processes
To ensure clear understanding of the
management objectives for parks, any major
urban park of an area of more than 100
hectares should be covered by a management
plan, whereby decision-making frameworks
and strategies for appropriate uses and
developments are identified. The aim of
these plans should be to provide long-term
strategic direction, and the plans should be
reviewed within a planned time horizon.
Either a management plan or an explicit
statement of management objectives should
be developed for other urban parks.
To maximise broad-community access to open
space, any exclusive occupation of parkland by
community organisations should be restricted
to activities that are consistent with the park’s
management objectives. When proposals exist
to use parkland in a way that is inconsistent
with management plans or zoning, the
outcome should be determined through proper
processes under the Planning and Environment
Act 1987, whereby adequate opportunities are
provided for public objections to be heard.
Buildings and other infrastructure can be
used to facilitate people’s enjoyment and use
of open space. It is nonetheless important
to ensure that their provision is consistent
with the management objectives of the
park and subject to appropriate Planning
Scheme processes.
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107
Securing the future of open space
Diversity
Appropriate zoning of open space is integral
to its long-term security and Public Park
and Recreation Zone or Public Conservation
and Resource Zone are the most applicable
zonings for parkland purposes.
The zoning should be consistent with relevant
management plans and objectives for the
land, whereby conservation zoning is applied
in order to protect areas of high conservation
value in which development of visitor facilities
is limited.
Urban open space should be used to
accommodate the needs and aspirations of
people of all abilities, cultures and ages.
As much as possible in parks, planners should
provide for nature conservation, recreation
and play, formal and informal sport, social
interaction, and peace and solitude.
Large regional parks and significant
conservation areas should be protected
under legislation, ideally by being permanently
reserved under the Crown Lands (Reserves)
Act 1978.
Existing public land that immediately adjoins
waterways and coasts must remain in public
ownership, and any developments through
which public access along stream banks or
foreshores is prevented will not be permitted.
When additional land is identified as being
critical to completion of open space links,
through any proposed rezoning or subdivision
of land planners will seek to ensure that the
link is transferred to public ownership for
open space purposes.
When proposals arise to change the land use
of parkland, a decision should be made only
once the proposal has been exposed to public
scrutiny through processes under the Planning
and Environment Act 1987. If a change in land
use or in the nature of occupation is to occur
that will result in a reduction of open space,
the overall network of open space should be
protected by way of addition of replacement
parkland of equal or greater size and quality.
Planners should also seek to ensure that
areas that are at presently under-supplied
with parkland are given priority when the
new areas of parkland are being established.
108
Sites and features of high scientific, natureconservation, biodiversity, heritage, geological
or landscape value will be protected by way of
establishing appropriate reservations under
state-government legislation.
Victoria in Future 2008 (DPCD)
Victoria in Future 2008 is the current
population and household projections
of the Victorian State Government.
Projections cover the period 2006 to 2026 for
the state of Victoria, metropolitan Melbourne
and the whole of regional Victoria.
Moreland’s statistics:
Changing land use
Environmental and recreational value
of surplus government land will be fully
evaluated before any decision is made
on a proposal to sell land held by the
Crown, a government department or
a statutory authority.
Urban open space should include community
sports facilities in a way that is consistent
with other park activities. Users should
enjoy access to sports areas when sporting
activities are not in progress.
• Population growth in Moreland is expected
to be moderate between 2006 and 2026
• Household growth is projected to
continue at a slightly faster rate than
population growth
• The ageing that will occur over the next
20 years will be mainly in the 40 to 64 age
groups, and the over 85 years group
• Total population at 2006 was 142,325,
estimated in 2026 to be 168,007 (net
increase of 25,682)
• Recent research prepared for Council
confirms this estimate (MacroPlan, 2010)
• Linking People and Spaces, Parks Victoria
2002 – under review (2010)
• Proposed actions for Moreland include:
• For new areas of open space, when
possible, give priority to protection of areas
of national and State ecological significance
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
• Protect open space that supports
significant flora and fauna species,
including Kinglake National Park, Plenty
Gorge Parklands and the Merri Creek
Native Grasslands
Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment
Management Authority Native
Vegetation Plan – Updates 2008
• Protect, enhance and where possible
link the significant riparian vegetation of
waterways such as the Yarra River, the
Plenty River, the Moonee Ponds Creek, the
Merri Creek and Watson’s Creek in order
to establish regional wildlife corridors
• Set out a coordinated and strategic
approach to managing the region’s native
vegetation, consistent with Victoria’s
Native Vegetation Management: A Framework
For Action
• Protect, restore and increase the cover
of depleted vegetation communities,
including Plains Grassy Woodland, HerbRich Woodland, Native Grassland and Box
Ironbark Forest within the existing open
space network
• Promote east west links, both habitat and
trail, in order to complement and extend
the north south links along the regions
rivers and waterways
• Protect environmentally sensitive areas
from increased visitor pressure due to
growth in the residential population
Port Phillip & Westernport Catchment
Management Authority Regional
Catchment Strategy – 2004
The Regional Catchment Strategy (RCS)
describes Port Phillip and Westernport’s
catchment assets and how they are
interrelated. It indicates what needs to be
done to manage and use the assets in a
sustainable and integrated way, and outlines
goals and priorities for the future. The CMA
has coordinated the development of the RCS
in cooperation with government agencies,
councils, non-government organisations,
agricultural and industry groups, indigenous
organisations and volunteer community
groups in the region.
The main implications for Council are on
sustainable water use, including reducing
impacts on waterways and wetlands,
appropriate land use, protecting and
enhancing ecosystems, and helping the
community to value and understand the
catchments’ assets and to work together
to protect them.
The purposes of this plan are to:
• Establish regional priorities and targets
for retaining, protecting, enhancing and
restoring native vegetation
• Provide direction to authorities who
consider permit applications to clear
native vegetation
• Guide investments in native vegetation
planning and management
• Increase community awareness of the
need for a net gain in the region’s native
vegetation, and community involvement in
managing the region’s native vegetation
• Provide detailed information about the
region’s native vegetation, which can be
used in other regional strategic plans
and local landscape scale plans, such as
integrated catchment plans, community
group (such as Landcare) plans and
Biodiversity Action Plans, and
• Identify gaps in knowledge about, and
research requirements for, managing the
region’s native vegetation
Native Vegetation Framework –
Department of Sustainability and
Environment 2002
Victoria’s Native Vegetation Management –
a Framework for Action establishes the
strategic direction for the protection,
enhancement and revegetation of native
vegetation across the State. It addresses
native vegetation from a whole catchment
perspective but with a necessary focus on
private land where the critical issues from
past clearing and fragmentation of native
vegetation exist. The PP&WPCMA Native
Vegetation Plan outlines the main actions
for Council.
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109
Victorian Cycling Strategy –
Dept of Transport, 2009
Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation
Discussion Paper Victorian
Environment Assessment Council 2010
The Victorian Cycling Strategy aims to
increase cycling levels across Victoria and
position cycling alongside cars, trains,
trams and buses as a viable and attractive
transport option.
The strategy proposes to deliver a better
cycling network, promote a culture of cycling,
reduce conflicts between cyclists and other
road users, better integrate cycling with public
transport and integrate cycling with land
use planning.
Priority actions in the strategy include:
• Significantly improving the cycling network
within 10km of the CBD
• Establishing a public bike hire scheme
for Melbourne
• Installation of bike cages at 33 train
stations by the end of 2009
The purpose of the investigation was to:
• Systematically identify and assess the
uses, resources, condition, values and
management of Crown land, and public
authority land in metro Melbourne
• Assess values of Crown land, and public
authority land for areas not committed to
a specific use, and report on appropriate
future uses relevant to Melbourne’s
liveability and opportunities to enhance
this contribution
• Report on the contribution of Crown land,
and public authority land to Melbourne’s
liveability and opportunities to enhance
this contribution
• Completing cycling networks in central
activities districts and regional centres
• Developing bicycle facilities as part of
major transport projects
• Developing safe cycling programs in
Victorian schools and launching a ‘look
out for cyclists’ campaign to educate other
road users about cyclist safety
• A review of cycling accident patterns to
develop appropriate counter measures
Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006
The primary objective of the Act is to
recognise, protect and conserve Aboriginal
cultural heritage in Victoria in ways that are
based on respect for Aboriginal knowledge
and cultural and traditional practices.
As a responsible authority under the Victoria
Planning Provisions, Council must check
if a Cultural Heritage Management Plan is
required prior to determination of applications
for planning permits, amendments to planning
permits and other statutory authorisations.
110
Although not a State Government policy this
document is an important snapshot of the
state of metropolitan Melbourne’s open space
network and its importance in maintaining the
liveability of Melbourne and protection of its
environmental and social functions.
It provides the first detailed picture of the
use and ownership of public land in
Metropolitan Melbourne.
Liveability has been defined as reflecting the
wellbeing of a community and comprises the
many characteristics that make a location a
place where people want to live now and in
the future. It includes the social, economic
and environmental conditions necessary for
creating liveable communities.
The report notes that land owned by local
councils makes significant contributions to
the liveability of communities through
community facilities and services and
open space. This land often adjoins and is
indistinguishable from public land, and is often
considered by the community to be part of the
public land estate, even though this may not
be the case (VEAC 2010 p. 91). It also notes
that where surplus public utility land has been
identified that if it has environmental and/or
community value that more effort is required
to facilitate that land being made available
to the community.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Moreland has been identified as one of the
third lowest (of 29 municipalities) providers
of open space per 1000 people in metropolitan
Melbourne. This information is particularly
critical. The projected population growth for
Moreland over the next 15 years will reduce
open space to 2.9ha per 1000 people.
This further reduces access to open space
and negatively impacts on the liveability of
Moreland. The report does not distinguish
accessibility or the quality of the open space.
It only looks at quantity. This means that some
areas of Moreland’s community who already
have poor quality and/or poor access to open
space are further disadvantaged.
Victorian Government Response to Victorian
Environmental Assessment Council’s
Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation –
Final Report (DSE March 2012)
The Government notes the importance
of public land and that VEAC’s work will
help inform development of a metropolitan
planning strategy for Melbourne.
Some of the recommendations made by
VEAC have been fully supported in the
Government response. Others have been
supported in principle as the Government
further considers the implications of the
recommendations in relation to current
policies and work in progress.
Potential opportunities for funding
open space development through
the planning system
The Planning and Environment Act 1987
provides three mechanisms through which
development contributions can be sought
and collected through the planning system.
They are:
Voluntary agreements
Voluntary agreements provide an alternative
mechanism to a DCP for obtaining
development contributions towards
infrastructure provision.
Section 173 of the Planning and Environment
Act 1987 provides a mechanism for
formalising a voluntary agreement between
the responsible authority (usually Council),
a landowner, and other parties. Section 173
agreements are enforceable through Victorian
Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
Conditions on planning permits
Planning schemes regulate the use and
development of land. One way this is
achieved is by requiring certain types of use
or development to be only carried out if a
planning permit is granted. The proposed use
or development must satisfy all the conditions
on a planning permit and comply with the
endorsed plans.
There is some value in revising Councils
standard permit conditions to ensure they
are consistent with the outcomes desired
in open spaces.
Planning permit conditions can include
requirements for:
• Infrastructure to be provided, or
• Payments to be made towards the provision
of infrastructure
• More concerted maintenance periods for
vegetation etc
• Voluntary agreements (Section 173
agreements),
• Conditions on planning permits, and
• Development contributions plans (DCP’s)
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
111
Development contributions plan
Council’s City Plan – 2009-2013
A development contributions plan (DCP) is a
mechanism used to levy new developments
for contributions to planned infrastructure
needed by the future community.
As part of the overall objectives the main aims
for open space are to:
• Collaborate with the community and
respond actively to climate change
Council collects development contribution
levies from new developments through an
approved DCP. Moreland Council is currently
in the process of developing a DCP.
• Improve transport and mobility
A DCP identifies infrastructure to be provided.
The infrastructure:
• Must serve a neighbourhood or larger area
• Must be used by a broad section of the
community, and
• Will in most cases serve a wider catchment
than an individual development
It is important to note that Council has adopted
to not include projects that can be funded
through the Open Space Contribution in the
DCP. The DCP can and should be used to fund
street landscape projects. The development
of quality streetscapes not only provides
linkages to open space, they provide critical
environmental and social benefits for the
community. Moreland City Council policies
and strategies.
Council’s broader strategy and policy
framework around the Open Space Strategy
is illustrated in Figure 1.
• Effective use of our land use and
development policies for outcomes
appropriate to the
long term needs of the communities
• Maintain and enhance appropriate
infrastructure and open space
• Ensure that the community has access
to a range of sporting and recreational
opportunities to maximise their potential
• Two of the key strategic objectives are to:
• Maintain and enhance appropriate
infrastructure and open space, including:
−− Community civic and recreational
facilities as per Community infrastructure
planning framework
−− Facilities planned and delivered in
accordance with annual capital
works program
−− Implement the Gowanbrae Community
Centre & Children’s Centre Project, the
Open Space Strategy; commence Coburg
Lake Reserve upgrade and Brunswick
Central Parklands Master Plan
• Ensure that the community has access
to a range of sporting and recreational
opportunities to maximise their
potential, including:
−− Number of people participating in
organised sport or facilities – increase
participation from 19,000 to 21,000
by 2012
−− Upgrades and improvements to
sporting facilities
−− Implement the Aquatic Strategy, including
Brunswick Baths redevelopment & Oak
Park Pool upgrade and Active Women
in Moreland Strategy
112
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Municipal Strategic Statement
Municipal Public Health Plan
The Municipal Strategic Statement 2006 (MSS)
forms part of the Moreland Planning Scheme.
It applies the goals and key commitments of
the Council Plan to the use and development
of land in Moreland. Moreland’s vision is
expressed as follows:
The Moreland Health and Wellbeing Plan 20102014 (MHWP) is a major policy document that
aims to improve the health, safety and wellbeing
for the people who live, work and play in Moreland.
“Moreland seeks to create an environmentally
sustainable and liveable city, where people
can shop, work and socialise locally. A city
where a car and a high income are not
necessary for a rich and rewarding quality
of life. A city which will continue to provide
a range of opportunities and choices for a
diverse and prosperous community.”
The document reiterates elements of the 2004
Strategy, including the Strategic Framework
Plan and the target of developing as usable
open space all the areas assessed as
undeveloped. Clause 21.05-6 Open Space
and Outdoor Recreation, presents a number
of ‘strategies’ under six objectives:
• To create a network by linking different
open space areas
• To protect and manage remnant vegetation
communities and establish a network of
habitat landscapes for native flora and fauna
• To protect the water quality, habitat
potential and amenity of the waterway
environs within Moreland
• To ensure that all areas have access to
local parks and district parks
• To provide an appropriate range of open space
types to reflect community expectations
• To celebrate the local, natural and historic
environment and the cultural diversity of
the City in open space development
A number of implementation actions are
also listed in this clause.
In June 2010 Council adopted Moreland’s
Planning Scheme Review Report. The
recommendations of this review will be
undertaken in accordance with Council
priorities. A key recommendation of the
Review Report was to revise the MSS. The
revision of the MSS commenced in 2010 and
is scheduled to be updated in the Moreland
Planning Scheme by 2012. Due consideration
of recommendations in the Open Space
Strategy will be required through this process.
Key strategies include:
• Promote physical activity through participation
in leisure and recreation activities
• Improve opportunities to access play and
recreation spaces
• Improve the amenity of open spaces
and streetscapes
• Build resilient communities to address climate
change locally, including opportunities to
address rising energy and water costs, peak
oil, extreme weather events and food security
• Foster a resource efficient community
through actions that improve reliability
and quality of our air, soil and water
Transport, Planning & the Environment is included
as one of four policy themes for Council. Council’s
vision for the City is to see it grow economically,
have improved social conditions for its residents,
and improve the built and natural environment.
Key points are:
• Council supports a planning system that
encourages sustainable and appropriate
development that links in with Moreland’s
Open Space Strategy and ensures adequate
provision for all residents to access
• Protecting and improving Public Open Space
– Council will treat our scarce parkland
reserves as a precious community resource.
Council will work to ensure that all residents
have quality, accessible open space within
safe walking distance (500m), with particular
regard to higher density areas (300m)
• Council will protect sporting reserves and
move to ensure that all public land and
open space is utilised to its full potential
• Council supports the consolidation of
open space corridors and the permanent
rezoning of land with particular regard to
State-owned properties.
• Council will continue its strong emphasis
on improving and greening streetscapes
and revegetation initiatives
• Continue to work on improving Moreland’s
waterways and native flora and fauna
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113
Structure Plans
Glenroy Structure Plan 2009
The Glenroy Structure Plan outlines a vision
for the future Glenroy. The document provides
a long-term framework for the regeneration
of the Glenroy Activity Centre over the next
15 to 20 years.
Coburg 2020 Structure Plan 2006
The Central Coburg 2020 Structure Plan
provides a long-term framework for the
regeneration of the Coburg Activity Centre
over the next fifteen years.
Key features of the plan include:
• Provision for 3,000 new dwellings
• Provision for 65,000 square metres
additional commercial/retail floor space
• 1,400 new jobs for Moreland residents
with over 10,000 jobs over the construction
phase over $900,000,000 of investment in
construction over the life of the project
• More residents in the core adding to the
vitality of the public realm integration
of community facilities and improved
access to public transport development
controlled along Sydney Road shopping
strip to preserve and build upon its
unique character
The activity centre includes the Pascoe Vale
Road and Wheatsheaf Road strip shopping
centres, the industrial area to the east of the
rail line, and land abutting these areas.
New development will provide the opportunity
to create a vibrant mixed-use centre with
more services, facilities, activity and residential
opportunities in a high-quality environment.
The structure plan is grouped into four
themes including:
• Getting around Glenroy, which includes
improved access in and around the centre,
transport access, managing congestion and
potential grade separation of railway line
• Places to enjoy and do business, which
includes improvements to the public realm
and private investment to create a visually
appealing centre, an improved mix of shops
and services, and greater employment
opportunities including type and variety
of jobs
• Improved certainty for new development
for both developer and residents
• Improved and additional public places
allowing for meeting places for all
• Improved access to green open space.
Environmentally sustainable design is vital to
the redevelopment of Coburg and improved
pedestrian amenity. This includes a range
of green links through the centre and to
surrounding parkland. A series of public
open spaces are proposed that will provide
places for the community and provide
environmental benefits.
A key focus of the structure plan is on creating
an environment that is physically suitable and
socially welcoming to all people.
• Living in the centre, including increasing
the residential population to add vitality
to the centre, and increasing the variety
of dwelling types, sizes and tenures
• Quality spaces for people, including
improving the public realm to ensure
a safe, attractive, walkable and cyclable
system of streets and public spaces,
high-quality design incorporating ESD,
enhanced landscaping to create a greener
and leafier centre, and public and open
spaces that are well designed
The Central Coburg 2020 Structure Plan is
a long-term plan. Its delivery will require
the input of a range of partners including
residents, traders, community groups, the
State Government and private industry.
Council will play a key role in facilitating
this plan for the Moreland community.
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Brunswick Structure Plan 2010
The Brunswick Structure Plan outlines a
vision for the future of Sydney Road, Lygon and
Nicholson Streets precincts. The document
provides a long-term framework for the
regeneration of the Brunswick Activity Centre
over the next 15 years. The most highly valued
quality of Brunswick by the community is
‘diversity’. The Structure Plan addresses the
following key areas:
• Integration of transport, land use and the
public realm
• Strengthening of activity nodes
• Matching land use zones with objectives
for future activity
• Development of approximately 5,000
–10,000 additional dwellings
• Encourage the development of accessible
and adaptable housing
• Defining the desired future character of the
three key transport and activity corridors
• Resolution of poor interfaces between
the Brunswick Central Parklands and the
Brunswick Core Employment Precinct
• Improve the local open space and cater
for future demands for open space and
recreation opportunities, including the
development of facilities for community
activities, including passive and
active recreation
• Development of three key community
hubs /precincts
• Development of Council’s Edward Street
car park for a mixture of uses including
affordable, accessible housing in
partnership with a housing association
• Better distribution of convenience retailing
Moreland Industrial Land Use
Strategy (MILUS) 2004
Finalised and adopted by Council in August
2004 and was included in the Municipal
Strategic Statement and Local Planning Policy
(Clause 22.03) of the Moreland Planning
Scheme in November 2006.
The purpose of this study was to provide clear
direction about the long term planning and
zoning of industrial land throughout Moreland.
The Moreland Industrial Land Use
Strategy demonstrates:
• An understanding of the pressures
affecting industrial zoned land in the
City of Moreland, notably a decline in
manufacturing and other industry
• Insight into the future outlook for existing
industries in Moreland as well as for
possible new employment related issues,
notably a need for office and service
related uses
• Clear direction to Council and the
community about the long term planning,
zoning and redevelopment of land that is
presently included in Industrial 1 and 3,
Business 3 and 4
• MILUS Pilot Project (Gale St precinct,
Brunswick) undertaken in conjunction
with DPCD and Planisphere early 2010
• Anticipated increase of approx. 1600 new
dwellings / 4000 square metres of new
office space
• Planning Scheme Amendment to rezone
precinct, and other precincts adjacent to
Lygon Street, likely early/mid 2011
• 15 precincts remain in Brunswick for
rezoning
• Matching jobs to the skills of the local
workforce
• Reducing car dependence (and its
implications)
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115
Urban Villages
• 17 Urban Villages identified within the
Moreland Planning Scheme
• The Urban Village concept aligns with the
Neighbourhood Activity Centre concept
outlined in Melbourne 2030
• Urban Village policy reviewed in 2004,
where some were added and some were
removed based on amenity criteria,
e.g. distance to shops, transport, open
space, etc
• Urban Village Local Planning Policy
located at Clause 22.02 of the Moreland
Planning Scheme
• The policy relies on the preparation of
structure plans encouraging more intensive
development and walkable communities
based on a 400 metre radius from the
centre of a transport node
• However, only two structure plans have
been prepared to date: Merlynston Station
and Anstey Station
• The urban village concept is now being
reviewed through the MSS Review
2010/2011
Moreland Leisure Plan
2001-2006 Policy
This policy replaces the 1997-2002 Leisure
Plan. It defines Council’s role in ensuring the
provision of relevant leisure opportunities.
Seven principles underpin the policy:
responsiveness to diversity; universal and
equitable access; community involvement;
health promotion; effective resource use;
accountability; and strengthening social capital.
Recommendations that are directly relevant
to strategic open space planning include:
• 1.9 Council ensures that the Youth and
Recreation Branch is advised and consulted
in the development of open space master
planning projects on a regular basis
• 3.19 Council caters for a range of different
age groups using parks and recreational
reserves, by developing playgrounds for
older children, basketball rebound walls,
BBQ facilities, and objects/informal areas
that young people can use as skate areas.
116
• 8.2 Council continues to prepare a Facility
Development Strategy to provide a
planned and consistent framework for the
maintenance and development of leisure
sports, recreation and infrastructure in
the municipality
• 8.15 Prior to any approvals being granted,
Council requires an assessment of all
capital works improvements proposed by
organisations allocated facilities to ensure
improved access for women, people with
disabilities, older adults and other groups
in the community
• 8.19 Council increases shade structures/
areas in playgrounds and ensure play
equipment complies with design standards
• 8.20 Council ensures that future
developments in major parks is undertaken
only after a master plan has been
developed for the whole area (e.g. this will
ensure that sporting areas are surrounded
by open spaces designed to provide a
range of recreation, play and aesthetic
experiences)
• 8.21 Council develops maintenance
standards for sports grounds, which are
appropriate to the standard of sport being
played (e.g. international standard turf
wicket preparation is not required for social
cricketers)
• 8.25 Council prepares guidelines for the
development of social facilities on Council
land, taking into consideration the need to
maintain residential amenity and ensure
that the design of facilities enables use by
other groups during the current lease and
at the end of the term of the lease
The Leisure Plan 2001-2006 refers to the
Open Space Strategy and notes that overall,
it “complements many of the priority areas
identified in the 1997-2002 Moreland Leisure
Plan and the Review. Complementary
strategies include issues of improving access,
communications and ensuring that all the
needs of Moreland residents are met such
as older adults, young people, women and
ethnic groups” (p20)
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Making people feel
connected and involved
in the protection,
development and use of
open space will provide
ongoing community
participation and
environmental benefits.
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117
Appendix 2
Classifications and core levels of service
Definitions of catchment
classification
Regional open space
Describes areas that serve regional
catchments or the whole of or broader than,
the municipality. They may host significant
sites or species of flora and fauna, or by
virtue of their size, diversity of opportunities
or level of development. They may attract
high numbers of people including tourists.
The expectation is that residents would not
necessarily expect these types of spaces to
be available for all primary functions and in
every municipality
The catchment hierarchy has three tiers:
• Local open space
• District open space, and
• Regional open space
Local open space
This is defined as space that is
predominantly provided to serve the
immediate local catchment.
Local open space will be relatively small in
size, service daily and weekly neighbourhood
use and will generally be accessed by bicycle
or foot from the surrounding catchment.
At this level, provision will include facilities
for social / family recreation activity and social
or foundation level sport, with a relatively low
level of complexity.
Definitions of settlement
type classification
There are three distinct forms of settlement
that may influence the amount and form of
open space to be provided in Moreland.
These are:
Suburban areas
District open space
This relates to the suburbs of Moreland.
This is defined as areas that generally serve
a group of suburbs or a precinct.
Medium / higher density areas
The expectation is that residents would be
prepared to drive to these places. They may
have significance for the precinct as a whole
or a substantial part of it, due to the size,
function or diversity in the space. These
spaces may also have local significance for
conservation and cultural value, and / or serve
large social gatherings.
These spaces will be generally larger and of
a greater complexity than local open space.
Typically, the standard of facilities serving
the catchment will be higher than that at the
local level, and some level of support facilities
can be expected.
118
This relates to areas of higher density, where
lot sizes may be small and private open space
may be limited.
Table 4: Moreland Settlement Types
Settlement type
Example
Suburban areas
Pascoe Vale
Medium / higher
density areas
Brunswick commercial /
retail area
Activity centres
Glenroy Activity Centre
Activity centres
These are areas with a concentration of
commercial and other high density land uses.
The specific requirement of open space will
differ in this settlement type.
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Definitions of primary function classification
Outlined below are the definitions for each of the eleven open space function types.
Table 5: Definitions and Examples of Function Types in Moreland
Function type
Definition
Example
Accessway / shared trail
Areas dedicated for, or dominated by a trail
or pathway, a walkway between streets /
neighbourhoods or along corridors of public
open space
Western Ring Road
Shared Trail
Social / family recreation (or play)
Areas that provide opportunities for a range
of age groups typically catering for play,
picnics, casual ball games, trail activities and
environmental qualities.
Lake Reserve
Sport
Areas reserved for sporting pursuits for
example baseball, soccer, cricket or football
Allard Park
Civic gathering / forecourt
Areas around or supporting indoor community
facilities as well as those for festivals,
concerts, celebrations for the community,
or civic gatherings.
Bell St Reserve
Conservation (flora and fauna)
Areas protected and managed for the protection
of flora (including carbon sinks) and fauna
(or potential habitat corridor or biolink).
These may include recreational opportunities
and interpretative signage, paths, bird hides etc.
Merri Creek Linear
Reserve
Heritage
Areas dedicated to the protection, or
interpretation of European settlement
or indigenous cultural heritage.
Methven Park
Memorial park / cemetery
Areas dedicated to the memory of people
or events.
Fawkner Memorial Park
Relaxation / contemplation / visual
amenity
Usually small areas of open space designed to
provide visual relief from urban surroundings,
and enhance amenity of streetscapes or
civic pride. Open space, typically with high
environmental qualities dedicated to relaxation,
contemplation / escape, with no dedicated
facilities other than seats, paths, viewing areas
or interpretative signage
Plumridge Park
Utility / drainage floodway
Areas of open land provided because they
accommodate electric supply lines, gas pipes
or water supply infrastructure. Areas of open
space designated for drainage / water quality
treatment functions, floodway or retardation.
Box Forrest
Drainage Easement
Community horticulture
Areas dedicated to horticultural or agricultural
recreation activities.
CERES
No identified function
Areas with no identified function
Volga Street Reserve
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119
Definitions of landscape setting type classification
Outlined below are the definitions of each of the ten open space landscape settings.
Table 6: Definitions and Examples of Landscape Setting Types in Moreland
Landscape setting type
Definition
Example
Open grassy area
Open areas of exotic grass that may not
be specifically cultivated as turf for sports
Sumner Park
Treed parkland
Parkland with scattered trees throughout and
possible around the boundaries, as well as
open grassy areas in between
Gilpin Reserve
Paved area
A sealed or paved area such as a plaza,
or square
Victoria Mall
Waterbody / wetland
A waterway and wetland, typically including
a riparian zone and vegetation
MWC Retarding Basin
Lawn or managed turf
Areas of turf managed for sports, aesthetic
purposes, picnics or ball games
ATC Cook Reserve
Specialised sports surface
Areas of synthetic turf or specialised playing
surfaces used for sports such as tennis,
bowling, athletics, hockey
Coburg Tennis Club
Ornamental garden
Planted area with flowering plants typically
exotic, ornamental or specimen plantings
Forecourt of the Municipal
Offices at Bell Street
Bushland / native grassland
Area of vegetation typical indigenous or native
vegetation with generally two or more storeys
including trees (except for grassland areas)
Jukes Road Grassland
Vegetable garden / farm
An area cultivated for food or wine such as
pasture, crop, vegetable garden, or vineyard
CERES
120
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Core levels of service – sport open space
Table 7: Sport open space core levels of service
Catchment level
Location
Distribution
Size
Accessibility
Quality / Complexity
Local
District
Within 1km of all dwellings
Within 1km of all dwellings
Possibly associated with
primary schools to address
deficiencies
Possibly associated with
primary schools to address
deficiencies
Adequate for junior sport /
kick about area
At least 8ha
Only basic turf quality
unless required by shared
club use
Playing fields preferably
at the same grade and
unfenced for flexibility
Ancillary space offering
pleasant landscape setting,
seating and shade
Sufficient land to
accommodate a core range
of competition sports in
one major unencumbered
sports reserve in addition
to support buildings /
pavilions, car parking, and
ancillary space offering
pleasant landscape setting
for non-sporting, recreation
opportunities, dog
exercise, etc
Provide as kick-about /
social or junior sports,
or for training
Standard of Infrastructure
May not include pavilions,
and only basic support
facilities such as toilets
May or may not include
lighting depending on the
code and if used for training
Standard of Maintenance
Regional
Prominent site served
by public transport
Possibly provided in
associated with an
indoor centre
May fulfil the role of a local
park for urban residents
within 500m e.g. Social /
family recreation
Seating and shade, play
and contact with nature,
environmental qualities
to be retained
On site car park, training
lights, shared pavilion,
kiosk, publicly accessible
toilets, shade, shelter, some
spectator facilities, seating,
signage, and rubbish
collection system
May include a synthetic
or specialised playing
field such as hockey, /
athletics, water sports,
turf wickets, etc
Higher quality support
facilities (irrigated to
highest level), playing
surfaces able to be
enclosed to take a gate fee,
competition lights, pavilion,
including club and social
rooms where applicable
On site sealed car park.
Some spectator facilities
possibly undercover, public
toilets, shade, seating,
signage, and rubbish
collection system
Low level irrigation from
Irrigated and drained
recycled or harvested water sports playing fields
(not outfields)
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121
Core levels of service – social / family recreation open space
Table 8: Social / family recreation open space core levels of service
Catchment level
Local
Location
Distribution
Size
Accessibility
District
Not to be provided on
encumbered land
Within 500m of every
household (without having
to cross a major road /
railway or other major
physical barrier)
Absolute minimum size
of 1ha and minimum
dimensions of 70m in
any direction
Quality / Complexity
Regional
As per local level provision
As per district provision
Preferably minimum
size of 2ha
Not on encumbered land
Serves all suburban houses
within 500m catchment
or several with different
landscape setting types
to create diversity
Meeting place with shade
and shelter, seating,
drinking water, all
Shade to include mature
accessible to people with a
trees and may include some
disability, access to nature /
structures, seating, paths
loose materials
Caters to a range of
age groups.
Served by a shared
path or trail
Provided in each
activity centre
May be in the form
of a plaza, regional
accessible play space
or ornamental garden
Significant shade and
shelter, seating, BBQ,
public toilets
Fully accessible to
people with a disability,
formed paths
At least two road frontages,
and desirable not rear
fences over looking from
private yards
Provision of a dog
off-leash area
Standard of Infrastructure
Includes areas for cooperative play and games
No BBQ or toilets
Some areas to have
picnic / BBQ, toilets,
additional facilities
Possibly access to
refreshment and other
commercial services
To include some hard
ball courts
May include facilities with
synthetic surfaces
May include skate facilities
Provision of lights for
some night activities
Provision of toilets
May include areas of
synthetic soft fall
Standard of Maintenance
122
Irrigation to a basic level
Some space with irrigated
green lawns lights and
rubbish collections
Considerable areas
under irrigation
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Core levels of service – shared trails
Table 9: Shared trails core levels of service
Catchment level
Local
Location
Distribution
Size
Accessibility
One circuit trail in
every locality
In logical places
that are well used
Within 500m of
every dwelling
In localities that connect
with destinations such as
community facilities, in
pleasant landscapes,
streets and parks
District
Regional
As part of larger open
spaces. Trail should not
dominate space
Trails between suburbs,
and along former
easements and creeks
Within 800m of every
dwelling in urban areas
Sealed trails to be a
minimum width of 2.5m
with direction signage at
nodes. Connects to social
/ family recreation open
space
Away from sensitive
riparian areas / river banks
Circuits around the
perimeter of major
parks in a consolidated
gravel pavement
Where trail is the primary
function corridor width
shall be 10m wide
Minimum width 2.5m,
Perimeter paths around
and 3m for equestrian use
large parks – with local
links to district and regional
Where trail is the primary
trails
function corridor width
shall be 10m wide
Trail 2.5m wide
Where trail is the primary
function corridor width
shall be 10m wide
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123
Quality / Complexity
A hierarchy of paths in
every new residential
development, and shared
footways (connecting onto)
the river / creek trails etc
Visually pleasant, linear or
contiguous open space
Link between suburbs
and / or provide a link to
a regional trail. They are
likely to include, unsealed
shared trails for use by
horse riders, cyclists and
pedestrians, and sealed
trails designed for
cycling, skating
Trails at a district level
likely to include two levels
or trails that serve district
sports
and recreation uses
A range of setting types
along the length of long
trails to provide sunny
and shaded areas,
connections with views
and environmental stimuli
Instead of running a trail
parallel along a significant
waterway edge without
a buffer and a single
approach to the
watercourse – so there is
only a single impact point
Formed paths including
consolidated gravel
pavement or granitic sand
(not screenings or toppings)
or asphalt, or concrete
depending on key activities
to be accommodated
Protection zone on either
side of the tread way to
insulate the trail user from
activities detrimental to the
trail experience, and the
environment of the trail
as viewed
Standard of Infrastructure
Break out spaces for
rest and respite
Access to seating and
drinking water at nodes
Provide distance markers
Provide trail head and
activity hubs with a toilet,
car and bike parking, picnic
tables, and toilets at logical
entry and exit nodes
Networks to have
directional, interpretive
and information signage
Ensure all path and
entry points are accessible
by wheelchair
124
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Parks and open spaces
provide the main
opportunities for viewing
and experiencing nature
in an urban area. Trends
towards more intensive
development and increased
work-related stress
indicate a growing need
for these green spaces.
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125
Appendix 3
Open space planning process for residential areas
Nature of
Development
Determine
settlement type
of developable area:
• Hubbed for
rural area
• Equal distribution for
suburban areas
• Appropriate
nature / form of open
space for higher
density areas
Establish details of
planning application:
• Yield of development
• Density of
development
• Nature of private
open space
• Nature of
streetscape as
open space
• Environmental
information and
constraints
• Establish open
space that off-sets
requirements
of other areas
of Council
• Determine
opportunity for open
space co-location
with schools and
commercial areas
126
Demand
Supply
Determine open space
supply through:
Determine demand
based on current and
projected population
figures for outdoor
recreation:
• Council
produced data
• Findings from
Council Recreation
and Leisure
Strategies
• ABS and Exercies
Recreation and
Sport Statistics
for organised sport,
physical and
leisure activities
• Further data on
less documented
activities such as
mountain biking, dog
walking,
and fishing
• Assessment of
recreation provision
in the wider area
• An analysis of
land subject to
development, and
implication for
(biodiversity,
heritage, transport,
drainage, and
flooding purposes)
• Assessment of local
and regional open
space needs
• Analysis of provision
Results in
• Establishment of core service levels for function type
• Open space function type and landscape setting
required
• Quality, quantity, and distribution required
Planning Control
and Design
• Assess development
contributions
taken through the
development:
– Planning scheme
policy regarding
% contribution
– Ensure open
space taken for a
recreation function
is unencumbered,
as complies with
core service
level criteria
• Determine specific
gaps in supply
and how these can
be funded
• Prepare an open
space matrix
specifying the
function type and
landscape setting
to be provided in a
large development
of structure plan, and
any embellishments
required in line
with core service
levels developed
• Ensure structure
plans / outline
development
plans / developer
contributions
plans include the
following Location
and potential for
inundation of:
– Trail routes,
circuits, and
connections
– Sports reserves
– Open space with
a social / family
recreation function
• Through core service
levels determine
specific design
criteria for levels of
catchment of open
space
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Moreland’s waterways
are the distinctive
natural feature of the
municipality, requiring
consideration as to how
these can be protected
as an important natural
resource, whilst providing
important opportunities for
community recreation.
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127
Appendix 4
Environmental weeds in Moreland
Common Name
Scientific Name
Invasiveness
in Moreland
Priority for
removal in
Moreland
Cootamundra Wattle
Acacia baileyana
low
moderate
Early Black Wattle
Acacia decurrens
low
moderate
Bears Breach
Acanthus mollis
moderate
moderate
Box-elder Maple
Acer negundo
high
high
Sycamore Maple
Acer pseudoplatanus
very high
very high
Agapanthus
Agapanthus praecox
ssp orientalis
moderate
low; high along
waterways
Brown top bent grass
Agrostis capillaris
high
low; high adjacent
to native grasslands
do not use in seed
mixes adjacent to
conservation areas
Creeping bent grass
Agrostis stolonifera
high
low; high adjacent to
native grasslands
do not use in seed
mixes adjacent to
conservation areas
White bladder flower/
Cruel vine/
Arauja sericifera
very high
very high
silky seeds dispersed
by wind.
Bottlebrush
Callistemon rigidus
low
high along waterways
Saffron Thistle
Carthamus lanatus
high
high
Mirror bush
Coprosma repens
high
high
Pink Pampas Grass
Cortaderia jubata
high
high
recent introduction
of new strains means
that Pampas grass
species can now
set seed and spread
many km in the wind.
Pampas Grass
Cortaderia selloana
high
high
wind dispersed seed
Cotoneaster species
Cotoneaster spp
very high
very high
seed dispersed
widely by birds
Hawthorn
Crataegus monogyna
high
high along waterways
and in parks
spread by birds
Montbretia
Crocosmia x
crocosmiiflora
high
high
Artichoke Thistle
Cynara cardunculus
high
High
Couch Grass
Cynodon dactylon
high
low; high in planting
beds or adjacent to
indigenous grassy
understorey
Tagasaste or
Tree Lucerne
Cytissus palmensis
high
high
English Broom
Cytissus scoparius
high
high
Cape Ivy
Delaira odorata
high
high
Patersons curse
Echium plantagineum
very high
very high
128
Notes
Seed carried in
drainage water and
by wind.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Priority for
removal in
Moreland
Common Name
Scientific Name
Invasiveness
in Moreland
Tree Heath
Erica arborea
high
very high
Spanish Heath
Erica lusitanica
high
high
Sugar Gum
Eucalyptus cladocalyx
low
low
Spotted Gum
Eucalyptus maculata
moderate
moderate in
conservation areas
Tall Fescue
Festuca arundinacea
moderate-high
high in or near
areas with grassy
understorey
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
high
High
Flowering Ash
Fraxinus ornus
potentially high
moderate
Desert Ash
Fraxinus oxycarpa or
rotundifolia
Very high
Very high
Flax-leafed Broom
Genista linifolia
very high
very high
Montpellier Broom
Genista
monspessulana
very high
Very high
English Ivy
Hedera helix
high
high; very high
adjacent to
conservation areas
Two-leaf Cape Tulip
Homeria miniata
very high
very high
rare in Moreland
Yellow Water Iris
Iris pseudoacorus
high
high along waterways
Not known in
Moreland yet
Shasta Daisy
Leucanthemum
maximum
low
moderate along
waterways
Ox-eye daisy
Leucanthemum
vulgare
low
moderate along
waterways
Large-leafed Privet
Ligustrum lucidum
very high
very high
seed dispersed
widely by birds
Chinese privet
Ligustrum sinensis
high
high
seed dispersed
widely by birds
European privet
Ligustrum vulgare
moderate-high
moderate
seed dispersed
widely by birds
Perennial Ryegrass
Lolium perenne
moderate-high
high in or adjacent
to indig grassy
understorey
Do not use in seed
mixes adjacent to
conservation areas
Japanese
honeysuckle
Lonicera japonica
high
high; very high
adjacent to
conservation areas
Himalayan
Honeysuckle
Lycesteria formosa
high
high
African Boxthorn
Lycium ferocissimum
moderate
moderate
Giant Honey Myrtle
Melaleuca armillaris
low
low
Bridal Creeper
Myrsiphyllum
asparagoides
high
very high
Myrsiphyllum
Myrsiphyllum
scandens
high
very high
Chilean NeedleGrass
Nasella neesiana
very high
high; very high near
native grasslands
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Notes
not to be confused
with the native
heaths.
Do not use in seed
mixes adjacent to
conservation areas
Can be replaced by
sterile cultivars in
heritage areas.
Spread on mowing
equipment
129
Priority for
removal in
Moreland
Notes
Spread on mowing
equipment
Common Name
Scientific Name
Invasiveness
in Moreland
Serrated Tussock
Nasella trichotoma
very high
very high throughout
the municipality
Olive
Olea europea
moderate
low, except where
spread is evident
Prickly Pear
Oputia stricta
moderate
high
Soursob
Oxalispes-caprae
high
low
Cape Wattle
Paraserianthes
lophantha
moderate-high
high in or near
conservation areas
Banana Passionfruit
Passiflora mollissima
high
high near
conservation areas
Swamp Foxtail Grass
Pennisetum
alopecurioides
very high
high
Do not use in
ornamental plantings
Kikuyu
Pennisetum
clandestinum
high
high near
conservation areas
Spread in
contaminated soil and
by growth of runners;
do not use near
conservation areas.
African Feather
Grass
Pennisetum
macrourum
very high
high
Do not use in
ornamental plantings
Canary Island
Date Palm
Phoenix canariensis
high but usually
less than 100m
high along waterways
or adjacent to
Conservation areas
Seed spread by birds
Monterey Pine
Pinus radiata
low
low except where
spread evident
Sweet Pittosporum
Pittosporum
undulatum
high
moderate; high near
conservation areas
Plane Tree
Platanus hybrida
low
low
Winter Grass
Poa annua
high
moderate in areas
with grassy under
storey
Do not use in seed
mixes adjacent to
conservation areas
Myrtle-leaf milkwort
Polygala myrtifolia
high
high
not yet a problem
in Moreland
White Poplar
Populus alba
moderate along
waterways
moderate
spreads by suckering
from parent plant.
Lombardy Poplar
Populus nigra var
italica
low
low; moderate in
conservation areas
Cherry-plum
Prunus cerasifera
very high
high
Cherry laurel
Prunus laurocerasus
very high
high along waterways
Orange Firethorn
Pyracantha
angustifolia
moderate
moderate
spread by birds
Nepal Firethorn
Pyracantha crenulata
moderate
moderate
spread by birds
Black Locust
Robinia pseudoacacia
moderate
moderate; high
along waterways
thought to be
spread by water
Briar Rose
Rosa rubiginosa
moderate
moderate-high
Blackberry
Rubus fruticosus
moderate
moderate-high
130
High priority were
understorey plantings
present or planned.
Avoid spreading
contaminated soils.
spread by birds
most modern plum
cultivars are less
likely to spread.
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Priority for
removal in
Moreland
Common Name
Scientific Name
Invasiveness
in Moreland
Willow
Salix alba
high along waterways
high along waterways
Weeping Willow
Salix babylonica
moderate along
waterways
low; moderate
along waterways
Willow
Salix cinerea
high along waterways
high along waterways
spread by stem
fragments
Basket Willow
Salix fragillis
high along waterways
high along waterways
spread by stem
fragments and seed
Willow
Salix X rubens
high along waterways
high along waterways
spread by stem
fragments
Pepper or
Peppercorn tree
Schinus molle
low
low; moderate in
conservation areas
Madeira Winter
Cherry
Solanum
pseudocapsicum
high
high especially
along waterways
Spear grass
Nassella hyalina
very high
High
Spear grass
Nassella leucotricha
very high
high
Acnantherum
Acnantherum caudtum
high
high
Tradescantia
Tradescantia albiflora
high
High; very high
near waterways
Strawberry Clover
Trifolium fragiferum
moderate
low; moderate along
waterways
do not use in seed
mixes adjacent to
conservation areas
Red Clover
Trifolium pratense
moderate
low
do not use in seed
mixes adjacent to
conservation areas
Other Clovers
Trifolium spp
low-high
low; high in
or adjacent to
indigenous grassy
understorey
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
moderate
high adjacent
to waterways
Gorse
Ulex europaeus
high
moderate-high
Dutch Elm
Ulmus X hollandica
high along waterways
high along waterways
Blue periwinkle
Vinca major
high
moderate; high
along waterways
Common violet
Viola odorata
high
low; high along
waterways
Bulbil Watsonia
Watsonia meriana
'bulbilifera'
very high
very high
White Arum Lily
Zantedeschia
aethiopica
low-moderate
low; moderate
along waterways
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
Notes
spread by stem
fragments
windblown and
waterborne seed
131
Progress in implementation
of this Strategy should be
monitored and reported
annually to Council, to
the Sustainable Moreland
Advisory Group and to the
community via Council’s
Annual Report.
132
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | 11. Appendices
References
Aspect Melbourne Pty Ltd (2002) Moreland Open Space Strategy Partial Review and Audit
of 1996-2001 Implementation. Report to Moreland City Council.
Australian Landscape Management (undated) Hope to Dawson Streets Open Space Landscape
Works 1999-2002. Tender Documentation and Landscape Management Plan. Moonee Ponds Creek.
Prepared for Moreland City Council.
Bainbridge, B., Bush, J.M., & Faithfull, M.A. (1998) Moreland Remnant Vegetation Assessment.
Merri Creek Management Committee, for Moreland City Council.
Collie Landscape and Design Pty Ltd (1998) Coburg Lake Reserve Management Plan.
Report to Moreland City Council.
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (2009) Our climate is changing,
http://www.csiro.au/Outcomes/Climate/Understanding/Climate-is-changing.aspx
Dept of Sustainability & Environment 2009, Climate Change Website http://www.climatechange.vic.
gov.au/CA256F310024B628/0/7589A5397D8E03B2CA2574740010470C/$File/PPWP_WEB.pdf
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Assessment Council’s Metropolitan Melbourne Investigation – Final Report http://www.veac.vic.gov.au/
documents/Vic-Gov-Response-to-VEAC-Metro-Melb.pdf
EDGe Environmental Design Group, Context Pty Ltd & Merri Creek Management Committee (1998)
Westbreen Creek Parklands –Final Report. Prepared for Moreland City Council.
Gill, S. E., Handley, J. F., Ennos, A. R. and Pauleit, S. (2007) Adapting Cities for Climate Change:
The Role of the Green Infrastructure, http://www.coolrooftoolkit.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/
Gill_Adapting_Cities.pdf
Loughnan, Margaret, Nicholls, Neville, and Tapper, Nigel 2009 Hot Spots Project – A spatial
vulnerability analysis of urban populations to extreme heat events, http://www.health.vic.gov.au/
environment/downloads/heatwaves_hotspots_project.pdf
Minton, A., (2009) Founding father makes rousing case for turning grey to green http://webarchive.
nationalarchives.gov.uk/20110118095356/http:/www.cabe.org.uk/articles/founding-father-makesrousing-case-for-turning-grey-to-green
Maller, C., Townsend, M., Brown, P. & St Leger, L. (2002) Healthy Parks Healthy People: The health
benefits of contact with nature in a park context. A review of current literature. Report to Parks
Victoria and the International Park Strategic Partners Group. Faculty of Health and Behavioural
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Merri Creek Management Committee (1999) Gardening with Indigenous Plants in Moreland.
Prepared for Moreland City Council.
Ministry for Planning and Environment (1988) Melbourne Metropolitan Recreation and Open
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Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | References
133
Ministry for Planning & Environment (1989) Planning Guide for Urban Open Space. Melbourne.
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Proceedings of the Tenth National Street Tree Symposium, 7-14, University of Adelaide/Waite
Arboretum, Adelaide, ISBN 978-0-9805572-2-0
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Management Committee staff and EDGe Environmental Design Group Pty Ltd.
Moreland City Council (2002) Moonee Ponds and Merri Creeks Resting Places Strategy.
Prepared by Aspect Melbourne Pty Ltd.
Moreland City Council (1997) Moreland Street Landscape Strategy 1997-2017.
Prepared for Council by Australian Landscape Management.
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Prepared for Council by Urban Initiatives, Australian Landscape Management and
Iain Shears Horticulture.
Moreland City Council (1997) ‘Urban villages: a sustainable future for Moreland.’
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Moreland City Council (2003) Disability Policy and Action Plan 2003-2006.
Moreland City Council (2002) Focus on Fawkner Community Action Plan 2003-2005.
Moreland Forecast ID. Available from www.forecast.id.com.au
Parks Victoria (2002) Linking People and Spaces: A strategy for Melbourne’s open space network.
Published by Parks Victoria. Available from www.parkweb.vic.gov.au.
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of Waterways’ for Melbourne Water.
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134
Moreland City Council | Open Space Strategy 2012-2022 | References
Revive Laser is Australian made and contains 100% recycled fibre. Revive Laser is also Certified Carbon
Neutral by the Department of Climate Change & Energy Efficiency’s National Carbon Offset Standard
(NCOS), an Australian Government Initiative. No chlorine bleaching occurs in the recycling process and
Australian Paper is ISO 14001 certified. Sales of Revive Laser support Landcare Australia.
For further information, contact Moreland City Council by:
Phone: 9240 1111
Email: info@moreland.vic.gov.au
Website: moreland.vic.gov.au
Disclaimer: This publication is produced by Moreland City Council and is intended for
information and communication purposes only. Although the publication may be of
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2012/Dec11/DCI57
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